Reviewing the safety of erlotinib in non-small cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
Erlotinib, a potent inhibitor of EGFR activity, is approved as a monotherapy for the treatment of advanced NSCLC and in combination with gemcitabine for advanced pancreatic cancer. The oral administration and manageable toxicity of erlotinib, along with its similar efficacy to chemotherapy, make it an important option as either maintenance therapy or in second-/third-line for patients with NSCLC who have previously received first-line chemotherapy. It is also an emerging option in other treatment settings in NSCLC.


METHODS
This review summarizes safety data from major clinical trials of erlotinib in patients with advanced NSCLC, as well as post-marketing data obtained in the 5 years since this drug was first approved.


RESULTS
An understanding of the common toxicities expected with erlotinib in patients with advanced NSCLC.


CONCLUSIONS
Erlotinib is a well-tolerated treatment option for patients with advanced NSCLC. The main adverse events of rash and diarrhea are typically mild or moderate in severity, and rarely lead to treatment withdrawal. When necessary, rash and diarrhea can be easily managed prophylactically, by active intervention or through dose reduction.
Department of Thoracic Oncology, Hospital Grosshansdorf, Woehrendamm 80, Grosshansdorf, Germany. dr.martin.reck@web.de
Martin
M
Reck
Tony
T
Mok
Jürgen
J
Wolf
David
D
Heigener
Yi-long
YL
Wu
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing / Q000379:methods; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors