Efficacy and safety of afatinib for non-small-cell lung cancer: state-of-the-art and future perspectives.
INTRODUCTION
Afatinib is a second-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor, acting as an irreversible and multitarget blocker of ErbB family members. Afatinib is currently approved for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring common and uncommon sensitizing EGFR mutations and for squamous NSCLC patients progressing after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy.


AREAS COVERED
This review summarizes the efficacy and safety profile of afatinib compared with chemotherapy and other EGFR TKIs, in order to evaluate its characteristics and potential role in the increasingly complex treatment landscape of EGFR-mutant lung cancer. Future perspectives and innovative drug combinations are also discussed.


EXPERT OPINION
Afatinib has been demonstrated to improve efficacy and quality of life compared with chemotherapy with a managed toxicity profile. However, in recent years, the increasing availability of different treatment options for advanced EGFR-mutant NSCLC has made the current treatment scenario more complicated, with an increasing need of new and deeper scientific data. In this light, the identification and validation of potential clinicopathological and/or molecular predictors of benefit, as well as the clarification of resistance mechanisms, may help to clarify the most appropriate treatment strategies and sequences for EGFR-mutant patients.
['Sartori|Giulia|G|', 'Belluomini|Lorenzo|L|', 'Lombardo|Fiorella|F|', 'Avancini|Alice|A|', 'Trestini|Ilaria|I|', 'Vita|Emanuele|E|', 'Tregnago|Daniela|D|', 'Menis|Jessica|J|', 'Bria|Emilio|E|', 'Milella|Michele|M|', 'Pilotto|Sara|S|']
D000077716:Afatinib D000818:Animals D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung D066246:ErbB Receptors D006801:Humans D008175:Lung Neoplasms D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors D011788:Quality of Life
afatinib Non-small-cell lung cancer tyrosine kinase inhibitor epidermal growth factor receptor mutation