How to deal with Erlotinib resistance?

Erlotinib (Erlotinib) is a targeted therapy drug mainly used to treat EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, as with many drugs, after long-term use, some patients may develop drug resistance, in which the drug is no longer effective in controlling tumor growth. When dealing with erlotinib resistance, the following aspects need to be considered:

1.Confirm resistance: Before adjusting the treatment plan, it is first necessary to confirm whether erlotinib resistance really occurs. This usually requires molecular testing to detect whether the EGFR mutation has changed or whether other resistance mechanisms have emerged. It is important to ensure the accuracy of drug resistance to avoid unnecessary treatment adjustments.

2.Switching treatment: If resistance is confirmed, doctors may consider switching the patient to other treatment options, such as different targeted therapies, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, etc. Choosing next treatment options will depend on the patient's specific circumstances, such as tumor characteristics, health status, etc.

3.Combination therapy: Sometimes, doctors may consider combining different types of drugs together to enhance the effectiveness of treatment and slow the development of drug resistance. For example, combining erlotinib with other targeted drugs or immunotherapy drugs may produce a synergistic effect and inhibit tumor growth more effectively.

4.Adjustment of treatment strategies: In the treatment plan, doctors may adopt strategies such as regular treatment suspension and intermittent treatment to help slow down the development of drug resistance. This can help prolong the effectiveness of the drug and provide time for research and development of new treatment strategies.

5.Clinical trials: For drug-resistant patients, participating in a clinical trial may be a beneficial option. Clinical trials often test the effectiveness of new drugs or treatment strategies from which drug-resistant patients may potentially benefit.

6.Individualized treatment: When adjusting the treatment plan, doctors need to fully understand the patient's condition and physiological status and formulate an individualized treatment plan. Different patients may respond differently to different treatment strategies, so individualized treatment is important.

In short, dealing with erlotinib resistance requires comprehensive consideration of multiple factors and the development of appropriate treatment plans based on the patient's specific conditions. Working closely with the medical team and adjusting treatment strategies in a timely manner may help prolong patients' survival time and improve their quality of life. For treatment decisions, joint discussion and decision-making between patients and doctors is crucial.

Erlotinib has been launched in China and has been included in medical insurance. Patients can purchase it domestically. The domestic price ranges from about 700 to 1,000. The specification is 150mg*7 tablets. Due to different medical insurance policies in different places, the price is also different. Please consult the local pharmacy or medical insurance bureau for details. Erlotinib abroad is mainly an Indian generic drug, with a price of about 900 yuan. The specifications are divided into 100mg*30 tablets and 150mg*30 tablets, which are about four times the domestic specifications, but the price is similar to that in China.