Tag Archives: EGFR

EGFRm+ non-small cell lung cancer – new treatments in development

For patients with activating mutations to the EGFR receptor kinase, small molecule specific inhibitors Iressa (gefintinib) or Tarceva (erlotinib) are administered as front-line treatments.  But, non-small cell lung cancers develop resistance after about one year of treatment via a single recurrent missense mutation (T790M) to the tyrosine kinase.  This is similar to resistance observed in patients with CML (Chronic Myeloid Leukemia) following treatment Gleevec (imatinib), which is mediated by a mutation to the Bcr-Abl transgene. Continue reading