Erlotinib monotherapy is used as maintenance treatment for patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer whose cancer has not progressed following 4 cycles of platinum-based first-line chemo regimen.
The erlotinib 150 mg(100mg, 50mg), monotherapy is used in order to treat patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer following failure of minimum one prior chemo regimen.
Erlotinib along with gemcitabine is used as a first-line treatment for patients with locally advanced, unresectable/metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Approval: Erlotinib specifically is a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, which acts on the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In the year of 2004, Erlotinib was approved for medical use in the United States.
Dosage Form: Erlotinib comes in the form of tablets generically and under the brand name Tarceva. The usual daily dose of erlotinib tablets for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is 150 mg administered on an empty stomach minimum 1 hour before or 2 hours following the ingestion of the food. The treatment with erlotinib should be continued until the disease is progressive or the unacceptable toxicity is noticed.
The usual daily dose of erlotinib for pancreatic cancer is 100 mg administered on an empty stomach minimum one hour prior to or a couple of hours following the ingestion of the food, along with gemcitabine. The erlotinib treatment should be continued until disease progression or the unacceptable toxicity is noticed.
Side Effects: Side effects of erlotinib are usually mild and not life threatening. The commonly reported side effects may include joint pain, rash, muscle pain, diarrhea, and cough.
Cost: The erlotinib price in India may vary depending on the wholesaler or pharmacy and of course the brand you choose. The cost of erlotinib usually costs around 11,900 INR for a supply of 30 tablets.
This content is earlier published here
