title: Erlotinib in non-small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an essential role in normal cell growth and differentiation, and is involved in tumour proliferation and survival. EGFR overexpression is a common feature in solid malignancies, including non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and is associated with poor clinical prognosis. Erlotinib is a small-molecule inhibitor of EGFR tyrosine kinase, showing a significant improvement in median survival, quality of life and related symptoms in an unselected population of advanced NSCLC patients in the second- or third-line setting. Erlotinib is well tolerated (with common toxicities including rash and diarrhoea) when administered at a standard oral daily dose of 150 mg. Further investigations are ongoing to contribute to our understanding of the role of erlotinib in NSCLC treatment.
authors.affiliation: S.G. Moscati Hospital, Division of Medical Oncology, Città Ospedaliera, Contrada Amoretta, 83100 Avellino, Italy. cgridelli@libero.it
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gridelli
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maione
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colantuoni
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Del Gaizo
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nicolella
authors.forename: Ciro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guerriero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride