Abstract
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an important role in the development and progression of human epithelial carcinomas, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Activation of the EGFR pathway promotes tumor growth and progression, stimulates tumor cell proliferation, angiogenic factors, invasion and metastasis, and suppresses apoptosis.
Several studies have confirmed the predictive role of activation mutations in EGFR exons 19 and 21 for NSCLC. Their presence is clearly associated with higher efficacy of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR TKI).
We have reversible EGFR TKI of the 1st generation erlotinib and gefitinib, the irreversible EGFR TKI 2nd generation afatinib, and also the already irreversible EGFR TKI 3rd generation osimertinib, the indication of which is above all the proven T790M mutation.