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gefitinib (Iressa)
Tradname: Iressa (FDA approved 2003)
Indications:
- refractory or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer [3]*
- NOT recemmended (NICE) [NGC]
- head & neck cancer
- CML [2]
* NSCLC with EGFR mutation (exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R substitution gene mutations) [3]
* ~10% of tumors shrink in size
* NOT recemmended (NICE) [NGC]
Dosage: oral agent
Adverse effects:
- rash
- edema
- fatigue
- diarrhea
- cytopenias [2]
Laboratory:
- therascreen EGFR RGQ PCR approved as a companion molecular diagnostic test [3]
Mechanism of action:
- tyrosine kinase inhibitor
- inhibits epidermal growth factor receptor
Interactions
drug adverse effects (more general classes)
General
EGF receptor (EGFR) inhibitor
small inhibitory antineoplastic agent (ib drug)
Properties
INHIBITS: protein kinase
Database Correlations
PUBCHEM cid=123631
References
- Prescriber's Letter 10(6):35 2003
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 16,
American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2012
- FDA News Release. July 13, 2015
FDA approves targeted therapy for first-line treatment of
patients with a type of metastatic lung cancer
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm454678.htm