Erlotinib : a guide to its use in first-line treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer with epidermal growth factor-activating mutations.

In the EU, the approved use of erlotinib (Tarceva(®)), an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has recently been expanded to include first-line treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients with EGFR-activating mutations. In randomized, open-label, phase III clinical trials, oral erlotinib reduced the risk of progression, improved response rates, and was well tolerated relative to standard platinum-based doublet chemotherapy in Caucasian and Asian populations with advanced NSCLC with EGFR-activating mutations.