title: Gefitinib: an adverse effects profile.
abstract: Gefitinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor, is currently approved for use in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who have failed previous chemotherapy or who are not suitable for chemotherapy in > 30 countries. The approved dose in patients with non-small cell lung cancer is 250 mg/day. The most common adverse effects are rash, diarrhoea, acne, dry skin, nausea and vomiting. Most of the effects are mild-to-moderate in nature and do not require discontinuation of therapy. The severity of many of these effects is dose-related with grade 3-4 effects more likely at a dose > 250 mg/day. The most severe adverse effect is interstitial lung disease (ILD), which occurs in approximately 1% of patients worldwide except for Japan where the incidence of ILD is 2%. ILD is fatal in approximately one out of three of the cases. The most common adverse effects associated with chemotherapy, myelosuppression and alopecia, are not commonly seen with gefitinib monotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Northeastern University School of Pharmacy, Boston, MA 02115, USA. r.cersosimo@neu.edu
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Cersosimo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D005076:Exanthema / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000139:chemically induced; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000077156:Gefitinib