Erlotinib

On May 14, 2013, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration approved erlotinib (Tarceva, Astellas Pharma Inc.) for the first-line treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients whose tumors have epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletions or exon 21 (L858R) substitution mutations. This indication for erlotinib is being approved concurrently with the cobas EGFR Mutation Test, a companion diagnostic test for patient selection.

The approval was based on the results of a randomized, multicenter, open label trial comparing erlotinib (n=86) to platinum-based doublet chemotherapy (n=88) in patients with metastatic NSCLC whose tumors had EGFR exon 19 deletions or exon 21 (L858R) substitution mutations determined by a clinical trial assay (CTA). Eligible patients were randomly allocated (1:1) to receive erlotinib, 150 mg/day orally, or platinum-based doublet chemotherapy. Randomization was stratified by EGFR mutation (exon 19 deletion or exon 21 (L858R) substitution) and ECOG PS (0 vs. 1 vs. 2). Tumor samples from 134 patients were tested retrospectively by the cobas® EGFR Mutation Test.

The trial’s primary endpoint was investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS) and objective response rate (ORR).

The median age of patients was 65 years. The majority of the patients were female (72%), Caucasian (99%), never-smokers (69%), and had adenocarcinoma histology (93%).

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The most frequent (≥ 30%) adverse reactions of any grade in the erlotinib arm were rash, diarrhea, asthenia, cough, dyspnea and decreased appetite. The most frequent (≥ 5%) grade 3-4 adverse reactions in the erlotinib arm were rash and diarrhea.

The recommended daily dose of erlotinib for NSCLC is 150 mg taken orally at least one hour before or two hours after the ingestion of food. Treatment should continue until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Full prescribing information is available at: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2013/021743s018lbl.pdf¹

Healthcare professionals should report all serious adverse events suspected to be associated with the use of any medicine and device to FDA’s MedWatch Reporting System by completing a form online at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm², by faxing (1-800-FDA-0178) or mailing the postage-paid address form provided online, or by telephone (1-800-FDA-1088).