Erlotinib is an orally administered quinazoline derivative that targets and inhibits the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase enzyme, thereby disrupting signalling pathways that encourage cell growth and inhibit apoptosis. There is evidence of in-vitro and cell tissue studies but no human studies that I could discover of this drug effective alone against pancreatic cancer. Studies have been in combination with other drugs and in fact, it may not be effective alone. There have been no phase II or III studies of erlotinib alone but some evidence for effectiveness comes from phase I studies, which are, however, limited. NCCN does not recommend Tarceva alone in any line.
There is a phase II study ongoing: Phase II Trial of Erlotinib in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer, NCT00497224. This is an open-label, multi-center phase II study of erlotinib in patients with metastatic or locally advanced, unresectable pancreatic cancer who have received up to one line of gemcitabine based chemotherapy.
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NCCN, PANC-G 2015