Tarceva® (erlotinib) is a drug that has been approved in the past five years to treat advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and pancreatic cancer. Tarceva® can extend the survival of patients that might otherwise have a very poor prognosis.
How Tarceva® Works
This drug blocks tumor cell growth by targeting the human epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (HER1/EGFR). The epidermal growth factor pathway plays a large role in tumor growth in both NSCLC and pancreatic cancer. Tarceva® binds to receptors in this pathway, blocking cancerous signaling and inhibiting the ability of the tumor cell to replicate. This inhibition leads to the slower growth of the tumor and delayed disease progression.
Indication and Usage for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Tarceva® has been approved to treat locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer after the failure of a chemotherapy regimen. The FDA approved its usage for this type of lung cancer based on the results of a phase III clinical trial that investigated the ability of Tarceva® to prolong survival in patients with advanced NSCLC. Results from the trial showed that Tarceva® could extend the median survival time of patients by two months. Additionally, after one year approximately 10% more patients were alive in the trial group that had received Tarceva® rather than placebo treatment.
Indication and Usage for Pancreatic Cancer
In locally advanced unresectable or metastatic pancreatic cancer, Tarceva® used in combination with gemcitabine (Gemzar®) chemotherapy is recommended as a first line treatment. The basis for the approval of this treatment combination came from a phase III clinical trial which showed that Tarceva®/gemcitabine could improve overall survival by 23% in pancreatic cancer patients. After a year, 24% of patients that received this drug combination were alive, compared to 19% of patients that were in the control group of the trial and received only gemcitabine plus placebo.
Side Effects of Tarceva® Therapy
While Tarceva® does provide some benefit in extending overall survival for patients with NSCLC and pancreatic cancer, there are also some common side effects associated with this drug that patients should be aware of. Rash and diarrhea are the most common side effects in patients with NSCLC treated with Tarceva®, and fatigue, rash, nausea, anorexia and diarrhea were the most common adverse events in treated patients with pancreatic cancer. Very rarely, Tarceva® can cause lung injuries, liver and kidney failure, heart attack, and thrombocytopenia, a disorder where the body does not produce enough platelets.
Overall, Tarceva® can help prolong the lives of patients with life-threatening NSCLC and pancreatic cancer. There are currently many clinical trials ongoing that are investigating the use of this drug in a variety of other cancer types.
