Targeting epidermal growth factor receptor in the management of lung cancer.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation is a potent oncogenic driver that accounts for carcinogenesis and tumor growth of pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Targeting EGFR with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is highly effective in terms of tumor response rate, progression-free survival (PFS), and quality of life. Multiple randomized studies have confirmed the superiority of EGFR TKIs over platinum-based chemotherapy and established EGFR TKIs as standard first-line therapy for patients with EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, almost all patients will develop resistance to EGFR TKIs and post progression therapy may include a combination of local therapy, systemic chemotherapy, and second-generation EGFR TKIs.