What type of cancer is Gefitinib used to treat?

Gefitinib is a drug used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It belongs to a class of drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors (tyrosine kinase inhibitors, TKIs). NSCLC is a major type of lung cancer, and gefitinib inhibits the growth and spread of tumor cells by blocking the kinase activity on the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).

EGFR is a cell surface receptor that promotes cell growth and division through signaling pathways. In some patients with non-small cell lung cancer, EGFR often mutates, causing excessive proliferation of cancer cells. Gefitinib helps inhibit the growth and spread of cancer cells by targeting these EGFR mutations and inhibiting their activity.

It should be noted that drug treatment should be carried out under the guidance of a doctor, because different tumor types and patient conditions may require different treatment methods and drug selections.

Gefitinib was launched in China in 2005. At that time, the price of a box was about 5,000 yuan. Enter medical insurance in China in 2017. The price after medical insurance has dropped a lot. For the specific price after medical insurance, please consult the local hospital pharmacy or the medical insurance bureau. Other versions include original drugs and cost-effective generic drugs. Generic drugs include generic drugs from India, Bangladesh and Laos. The prices vary with different specifications, about 200~800yuan, and the ingredients of generic drugs are basically the same as domestic drugs.