Erlotinib

Abstract

Erlotinib prolongs overall survival significantly more than a placebo in second-line chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). No advantage of adding erlotinib to the standard chemotherapy in a first-line setting was found. However, the standard chemotherapy followed by maintenance administration of erlotinib improves progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with advanced NSCLC. Gefitinib, which is of the same class as EGFR-TKI, targets individual treatment according to EGFR mutation status. On the other hand, all patients with NSCLC need to be treated with erlotinib.