Erlotinib 150mg

Erlotinib 150 mg falls within the group of drugs called kinase inhibitors; its active substance is Erlotinib. It is intended for the therapy of non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer that has spread to the other body parts (in this case, together with Gemcitabine). Erlotinib acts by impeding the tumor growth, helping the cancer patients to recover and deal with the tumor in a natural way.

Erlonat has demonstrated a survival benefit in the therapy of pulmonary cancer (III phase of clinical researches). FDA has approved it for the treatment of locally advanced and metastatic CSCLC (after the failure of chemotherapy) and pancreatic cancer (together with Gemcitabine).

Targeted treatment represents the result of about one hundred years of studies dedicated to understanding the distinctions between tumor cells and healthy cells. Nowadays, cancer treatment has concentrated mainly on destroying quickly replicating cells. Unluckily, some of our health cells divide quickly as well, causing various adverse effects.

Targeted therapy consists in defining other characteristics of tumor cells. Researchers look for the concrete differences in the ill and healthy cells. This information is intended to create a targeted therapy to kill the tumor cells without affecting the healthy cells, thereby reducing the number of adverse effects. Every kind of targeted therapy acts slightly differently; however, they impede the ability of the tumor cells to grow, replicate and/or affect the other cells.

Indications for use:

As a first-line therapy for the locally advanced, inoperable or metastatic pancreatic cancer (in combination with gemcitabine).
Locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (after the failure of one or more chemotherapies).

Interactions:

CYP3A4 inhibitors (for example, ketoconazole) reduce the metabolism of Erlotinib 150mg and increase its concentration in blood plasma. You should be careful with this combination (in case of developing toxicity, you should reduce the dose of Erlotinib ).
CYP3A4 inductors (for example, carbamazepine, rifampicin, phenytoin) improve the metabolism of Erlotinib and significantly reduce its concentration in the blood plasma.
If you combine this drug with warfarin or other cumarine derivatives, you should regularly control PT time or the international normalized relation.

Special indications:

In case of severe or moderate diarrhea, you should take anti-diarrheal (for example, loperamide).
Before the treatment with Erlotinib 150mg (and every month afterwards) you should monitor the activity transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin. If necessary, the doctor can correct the dose of Erlotinib.
During the treatment (and within at least 2 weeks after its end) you should use the safe means of contraception.