Treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, advanced disease, with erlotinib in 2(nd) and 3(rd) lines. Two cases report

Abstract

Agents that inhibit the activity of cell membrane receptor tyrosine kinases, such as the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have been an attractive target because EGFR is expressed by 80% of NSCLC. Erlotinib as monotherapy in the treatment of NSCLC after failure of at least one prior chemotherapy regimen, prolonged survival and improved quality of life, although modest response rate. Women, Asiens, patients with Adenocarcinoma and never smokers, were more likely than other patients to have a response to erlotinib. This is the group of patients that most commonly have an EGFR mutation. The authors describe two cases, with important control of symptoms and increased time to progression, independently o response rate (stable disease or partial response). Rev Port Pneumol 2008; XIV (Supl 3): S53-S60.

Keywords: Carcinoma pulmonar de não pequenas células; EGFR inhibitors; Non-small cell lung cancer; erlotinib; inibidores do EGFR; terapêutica; treatment.