Abstract
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an important role in the development and progression of human epithelial carcinomas, including NSCLC (non-small cell lung carcinoma). EGFR pathway activation supports tumor growth and progression, stimulates tumor cell proliferation, angiogenic factors, invasion and metastasis, and suppresses apoptosis.
With targeted therapy, we try to disrupt these altered signaling pathways. EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors have shown their efficacy in the presence of activation mutations, particularly in EGFR gene exons 19 and 21 of the NSCLC.
Afatinib is a second generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor that irreversibly blocks the entire ErbB family.