Tarceva for head and neck cancer – pro
Tarceva is currently FDA approved for pancreatic cancer in combination with gemcitabine and for non-small cell lung cancer for second line. Head and neck cancers display high levels of EGFR activity and another EGFR inhibitor, cetuximib, is active and FDA approved for head and neck cancer. Similar to cetuximab, there are indications that erlotinib may be synergistic with radiation. Erlotinib has been evaluated in combination with Radiation Therapy in a number of cancer types, and several studies are ongoing. It is also in trials in novel combination, for example, the study of erlotininb and Folotyn for advanced alignancies.
Vivek K. Mehta, Radiotherapy and erlotinibcombined:review of the preclinical and clinical evidence REVIEW ARTICLE published: 10April2012
Cohen EEW, Davis DW, Karrison TG et al. Erlotinib and bevacizumab in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a phase I/II study. Lancet Oncology. 2009;10:247-57.
Hidalgo M, Siu LL, Nemunitis J, Rizzo J, Hammond LA, Takimoto C, et al. Phase I and Pharmacologic Study of OSI-774, an Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor, in Patients With Advanced Solid Malignancies. J Clin Oncol 2001; 19:3267-79