How Erlotinib works

Erlotinib (Erlotinib) is a targeted therapy drug mainly used to treat patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who are EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) mutation-positive. It has the following main effects in the treatment of lung cancer:

1.Inhibit tumor growth:EGFR is overexpressed in certain tumor cells, promoting the growth, division and spread of tumors. Erlotinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that slows down or prevents the growth and spread of tumor cells by blocking the activation of EGFR, thereby inhibiting tumor progression.

2.Improve survival rate: For patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who are EGFR mutation-positive, erlotinib can prolong the survival time of the patients. Studies show that among patients taking erlotinib, survival times may be longer relative to traditional chemotherapy.

3.Reducing symptoms: Erlotinib can reduce symptoms, such as dyspnea, cough and chest pain, in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. By inhibiting tumor growth, drugs may help relieve the tumor's pressure on the lungs and surrounding tissue.

4.Improving quality of life: Compared with traditional chemotherapy, targeted therapy drugs such as erlotinib usually have lower toxic side effects. This means patients are likely to experience less discomfort while undergoing treatment, allowing them to maintain a better quality of life.

5.Individualized treatment: Erlotinib shows good efficacy in EGFR mutation-positive patients. Using molecular testing, doctors can determine whether a patient's tumor has this mutation, allowing them to make an individualized decision about whether to use erlotinib as a treatment option.

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 1000. The specification is 150mg*7tablets. Due to different medical insurance policies in different places, the price is also different. For details, please consult the local pharmacy or medical insurance bureau. 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.