How the targeted drug Gefitinib works

Gefitinib (Gefitinib) is a targeted drug mainly used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), especially those carrying epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. To better understand how gefitinib works, let's take a closer look at its relationship with lung cancer cells and the EGFR signaling pathway.

Lung cancer andEGFR: Lung cancer is a common malignant tumor and is divided into two categories: small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for the majority of cases. EGFR is a cell surface receptor protein that participates in a variety of physiological processes in normal cells. However, it can mutate in some tumor cells, leading to abnormal signal transduction, thereby promoting the growth, differentiation and spread of tumors. EGFRmutations are quite common in non-small cell lung cancer, especially in Asian populations.

The role of gefitinib: Gefitinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that inhibits the growth and differentiation of tumor cells by interfering with the activity of the EGFR signaling pathway, thereby achieving the purpose of treating lung cancer. The following is a detailed description of gefitinib’s mechanism of action:

1.EGFRsignaling pathway: Under normal circumstances, the EGFRsignaling pathway is involved in regulating cell growth, differentiation and survival. When the EGFR receptor binds to its ligand, it activates an internal tyrosine kinase, thereby initiating a series of signaling pathways. In some tumor cells, the EGFR pathway may be overactivated, leading to abnormal tumor growth.

2.Inhibitory effect of gefitinib: The molecular structure of gefitinib enables it to bind to EGFRtyrosine kinase, thus preventing the activity of the enzyme. This blocking effect prevents the transmission of the EGFR signaling pathway and slows the growth and spread of tumor cells. The effect of gefitinib is similar to shutting down an abnormally active signaling pathway in tumor cells.

3.Anti-tumor effect: By inhibiting the EGFR signaling pathway, gefitinib can reduce the proliferation and differentiation of tumor cells and promote tumor shrinkage or stabilization. This helps control tumor growth and extends survival in some patients.

4.Resistance issue: Although gefitinib is very effective in some patients with EGFR mutations, some patients may develop resistance after using it for a period of time. This may be because tumor cells gradually adapt to the effects of the drug and develop other evasion mechanisms. In this case, patients may need to switch treatment regimens or try other medications.

In short, gefitinib, as a targeted drug, interferes with the growth and differentiation of lung cancer cells by inhibiting the activity of the EGFR signaling pathway, thereby providing a treatment option for patients. However, due to individual differences and drug resistance issues, treatment regimens should be tailored to the patient's specific situation and physician recommendations.

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.