title: Gefitinib--a novel targeted approach to treating cancer.
abstract: Twenty years after the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was identified as a potential anticancer target, the EGFR inhibitor gefitinib (Iressa; AstraZeneca) has been approved for the treatment of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer in many countries. Studies have indicated its potential for treating patients with other types of solid tumours. Investigation of gefitinib has not only increased our knowledge about the biology of EGFR signalling, but is contributing to our evolving understanding of which tumours are EGFR dependent.
authors.affiliation: Roy S. Herbst is at the Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Unit 432, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. rherbst@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Roy S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Herbst
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukuoka
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baselga
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D000077156:Gefitinib