Tyrosine kinase inhibitorFDA-approvedSecond-line
Iressa
Generic name: gefitinib
How it works
Blocks the activity of certain proteins that help cancer cells grow and divide, including the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).
Cancer types
Lung Cancer— EGFR-mutated
Efficacy
Studies show that gefitinib improves progression-free survival in patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer.
Side effects
Mild
Most people tolerate this treatment well. Side effects are generally manageable and do not require stopping treatment.
Evidence from research
| Study | Cancer type | Stage | Efficacy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Cancer Treatment Shows Promise in Lung Cancer Study | Lung Cancer | phase-3 | Mefatinib demonstrated a significantly longer median IRC-assessed PFS compared to gefitinib (13.7 vs. 9.7 months; hazard ratio [HR] = 0.68; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.53-0.87; p = 0.002). | Source → |
| Early Lung Cancer Treatment Changes Tumour and Surrounding Tissue | Lung Cancer | lab-study | Objective response and disease control rates were 62% and 100%, respectively. | Source → |
| Gefitinib's Side Effects on the Brain: New Insights | Lung Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Combining Osimertinib and Gefitinib in Lung Cancer Patients with EGFR Mutation | Lung Cancer | phase-2 | The confirmed objective response rate was 26% (80% confidence interval: 16-39). | Source → |
| MicroRNA May Help Overcome Lung Cancer Resistance to Treatment | Lung Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Osimertinib May Help Patients with Lung Cancer and Brain Metastases | Lung Cancer | observational | Median first-line treatment duration was significantly longer with osimertinib than with gefitinib (12.6 6.4 months; P<0.001). | Source → |
| New Nanoparticles Improve Delivery of Cancer Drug | Lung Cancer | lab-study | The nano-formulation exhibited a significantly higher dissolution rate compared with the raw drug (< 0.01). | Source → |
| New Biomarker Identified for Lung Cancer Treatment Response | Lung Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| New Nanoparticle Formulation Enhances Cancer Drug's Effectiveness | Lung Cancer | lab-study | The nanosuspension showed a 33.8% higher inhibition rate than the physical mixture after 72 h. | Source → |
| Combining Traditional Chinese Medicine with Gefitinib May Help Treat Lung Cancer | Lung Cancer | lab-study | The combination therapy suppressed both the clonogenic ability and the combined processes of migration and proliferation in H1975 cells. | Source → |
| Cost-effectiveness of gefitinib plus anlotinib for lung cancer patients in China | Lung Cancer | phase-3 | First-line gefitinib plus anlotinib yielded an additional 0.16 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $196,652.56/QALY. | Source → |
| Bufalin May Help Overcome Lung Cancer Resistance to Certain Treatments | Lung Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Gefitinib Resistance in Lung Cancer: A New Pathway Discovered | Lung Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Berberine May Help Protect Liver from Gefitinib Side Effects | Lung Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Comparing Cancer Treatments in East Asian Patients | Lung Cancer | meta-analysis | Afatinib resulted in significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) than erlotinib (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.46-0.75) and gefitinib (HR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.32-0.53) in patients with the EGFR L858R mutation. | Source → |
| Gefitinib and Lung Cancer: A New Risk Model for Prognosis | Lung Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Combining Traditional Chinese Medicine with Cancer Drug May Improve Treatment Effectiveness | Lung Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Gene Linked to Poor Lung Cancer Prognosis and Resistance to Treatment | Lung Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Gefitinib's Liver Damage Mechanism Investigated in Lab Experiments | Leukemia | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Macrophages in Lung Cancer May Contribute to Resistance to a Common Treatment | Lung Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| RBPMS May Help EGFR Inhibitor Work Better in Ovarian Cancer | Ovarian Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Researchers Identify Gene Linked to Lung Cancer Resistance to Treatment | Lung Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Proton Pump Inhibitors May Affect Lung Cancer Treatment | Lung Cancer | observational | The adjusted hazard ratio for overall survival in the PPI group was 1.58 (95% CI 1.42-1.76) compared to the non-user group. | Source → |
| Gefitinib May Prolong Heartbeat in Some Patients | Lung Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Combining Two Targeted Therapies for Rare Lung Cancer | Lung Cancer | phase-2 | — | Source → |
| Afatinib and Gefitinib Compared in Lung Cancer Patients | Lung Cancer | observational | Afatinib led to significantly longer progression-free survival (13.4 vs. 9.5 months) compared to gefitinib. | Source → |
| Researchers Investigate Gefitinib Resistance in Lung Cancer | Lung Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Long-term survival in lung cancer patient with brain metastases | Lung Cancer | observational | — | Source → |
| Combining drugs may help lung cancer patients with certain genetic profile | Lung Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
This information is provided for general education only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making treatment decisions.