Erlonat (Erlotinib)

Erlonat (Erlotinib) (originally coded as OSI-774) is a drug used to treat non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and several other types of cancer. It is marketed in the United States by Genetech and OSI Pharmaceuticals and elsewhere by Roche under the tradename Tarceva.

Similar to Geftinat (gefitinib), Erlonat (Erlotinib) specifically targets theepidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase, which is highly expressed and occasionallymutated in various forms of cancer. It binds in a reversible fashion to the adenosine triphosphate(ATP) binding site of the receptor.[1] For the signal to be transmitted, two members of the EGFR family need to come together to form a homodimer. These then use the molecule of ATP to autophosphorylate each other, which causes a conformational changein their intracellular structure, exposing a further binding site for binding proteins that cause a signal cascade to the nucleus. By inhibiting the ATP, autophosphorylation is not possible and the signal is stopped.

Side effects

Common side effects include:

Rash occurs in the majority of patients. This resembles acne and primarily involves the face and neck. It is self-limited and resolves in the majority of cases, even with continued use. Interestingly, some clinical studies have indicated a correlation between the severity of the skin reactions and increased survival though this has not been quantitatively assessed.[8] TheJournal of Clinical Oncology reported in 2004 that "cutaneous [skin] rash seems to be a surrogate marker of clinical benefit, but this finding should be confirmed in ongoing and future studies."[9] The newsletter Lung Cancer Frontiers reported in its October 2003 issue, "Patients with moderate to severe cutaneous reactions [rashes] have a far better survival, than those with only mild reactions and much better than those with no cutaneous manifestations of drug effects.

Diarrhea
Loss of appetite
Fatigue
Rarely, interstitial pneumonitis, which is characterized by cough and increased dyspnea. This may be severe and must be considered among those patients whose breathing acutely worsens.
Rarely, ingrown hairs, such as eyelashes
It has also been suggested that Erlonat (Erlotinib) can cause hearing loss.
Partial hair loss (by strands, not typically in clumps)