Erlotinib 150 mg is a specific medication used to treat cancer by preventing the activity of a protein called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). This protein (epidermal growth factor receptor) is known to be involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells.
Erlonat is indicated for adults and can be prescribed to you if you have non-small cell lung cancer at an advanced stage. It can be prescribed as initial therapy or as therapy if your disease remains largely unchanged after initial chemotherapy, provided your cancer cells have specific EGFR mutations. It can also be prescribed if previous chemotherapy has not helped to stop your disease.
Erlotinib can also be stipulated to patients in combination with another treatment called gemcitabine if a person, carrying cancer of the pancreas at a metastatic stage.
Erlotinib drug is also used in the treatment of advanced, or metastatic pancreatic cancer.
How it Works:
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is expressed on the cell surface of both normal and cancer cells. In some tumor cells signaling through this receptor plays a role in tumor cell survival and proliferation irrespective of EGFR mutation status. This medication has the potential to reversibly inhibit the kinase activity of EGFR, preventing autophosphorylation of tyrosine residues associated with the receptor and thereby inhibiting further downstream signaling. Erlotinib tablets are benefited in a way of binding affinity for Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors exon 19 deletion or exon 21 mutations is higher than its affinity for the wild type receptor.
FDA Labeled Medication: Erlotinib was approved for medical use in the United States in 2004. Erlotinib, a specific medication, added on the List of Essential Medicines, which lists the safest and most effective medicines needed in a health system by World Health Organization.
Interactions: Erlotinib 150 mg is mainly metabolized by the liver enzyme CYP3A4. Compounds that induce this enzyme (i.e. stimulate its production), such as St John's wort, can lower erlotinib concentrations, while inhibitors are helpful in order to increase concentrations. Drug interaction of erlotinib with other drugs are:
CYP3A4 inducers may reduce erlotinib plasma concentrations.
CYP3A4 inhibitors may increase erlotinib plasma strength.
Smoking lessens erlotinib plasma conc.
CYP1A2 inducers may diminish erlotinib concentration.
Effectiveness of Erlonat (Erlotinib) :
Patients who took erlotinib had a 66% lower risk of cancer getting worse or of death than those who received chemotherapy.
Tumors shrank or disappeared for 65% of patients who took erlonat 150 and 16% of patients who received chemotherapy.
Erlotinib is more active and tolerated by non-small cell lung carcinoma and brain metastases
This is one of the alternative treatments to traditional treatment which increases the survival rate. Erlotinib is more effective in patients suffering from activating EGFR mutations.
How to take Erlotinib (Tarceva): Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Discuss with your medical team or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Erlonat tablets should be taken at least one hour before or two hours after the ingestion of food.
Erlotinib tablets are available in 3 different dose concentrations namely 25mg, 100mg and 150 mg. The Tabla should not be broken or crushed rather should be taken as a whole with water.
Do not store the tablet at high-temperature. Store it away from the children and from excess heat and moisture.
Survival and Response rate: The survival rate is determined depending upon the response rate of the patient towards the treatment. Overall survival, progression-free survival, and one-year survival are similar to standard second-line therapy (docetaxel or pemetrexed). The overall response rate (OR) is about 50% better than standard second-line chemotherapy. The survival rate is only applicable if the disease is diagnosed at an early stage.