Gefitinib News and Research

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Gefitinib is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has not gotten better after treatment with other chemotherapy. It is available only as part of a special program called the Iressa Access Program. Gefitinib is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.

Gefitinib is an anilinoquinazoline with antineoplastic activity. Gefitinib inhibits the catalytic activity of numerous tyrosine kinases including the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which may result in inhibition of tyrosine kinase-dependent tumor growth. Specifically, this agent competes with the binding of ATP to the tyrosine kinase domain of EGFR, thereby inhibiting receptor autophosphorylation and resulting in inhibition of signal transduction. Gefitinib may also induce cell cycle arrest and inhibit angiogenesis.

Findings point to potential new treatment for people with newly diagnosed EGFR-positive NSCLC

Findings from a phase III clinical trial point to a potential new treatment for patients newly diagnosed with advanced, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

5 Jun 2017

Targeted therapy appears to be more effective in preventing lung cancer recurrence

The targeted therapy gefitinib appears more effective in preventing recurrence after lung cancer surgery than the standard of care, chemotherapy.

18 May 2017

New blood test can accurately, quickly identify genetic mutations linked to NSCLC

Identification of a specific genetic mutation in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) helps clinicians select the best treatment option. Potential NSCLC patients usually undergo invasive tissue biopsy, which may often be unnecessary and delays treatment.

19 Apr 2017

Penn studies provide new understanding of lung cancer progression and prevention

Treating the brain with a preventative course of radiation may help Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) patients - whose tumors often spread to their brain -- live longer, according to a new study from researchers in the Abramson Cancer Center and Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

16 Mar 2017

Researchers identify new way to prevent chemotherapy resistance in lung and breast cancers

Researchers at the University of Bradford have discovered a way to prevent chemotherapy resistance in lung cancer by blocking a protein found in cancer cells.

4 Oct 2016

Checkpoint inhibitor for treatment of NSCLC patients shows indication of added benefit

Nivolumab has been approved since April 2016 as a checkpoint inhibitor for the treatment of adults with locally advanced or metastatic nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have already undergone chemotherapy.

19 Aug 2016

Study highlights racial/ethnic disparities in genomic sequencing

As scientists learn more about which genetic mutations are driving different types of cancer, they're targeting treatments to small numbers of patients with the potential for big payoffs in improved outcomes.

19 Aug 2016

Experimental therapy stops glioblastoma, high-grade gliomas in human cells and mouse models

Researchers report in the journal Cancer Cell an experimental therapy that in laboratory tests on human cells and mouse models stops aggressive, treatment-resistant and deadly brain cancers called glioblastoma and high-grade gliomas.

10 May 2016

AstraZeneca, MedImmune to present new clinical trial and scientific data on lung cancer treatments at ELCC 2016

AstraZeneca and its global biologics research and development arm, MedImmune, will report new clinical trial and scientific data from their industry-leading lung cancer franchise of marketed and pipeline medicines at the European Lung Cancer Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, 13 -16 April 2016.

11 Apr 2016

Patients with EGFR-mutated lung cancer benefit more from afatinib as first-line treatment

Patients with EGFR-activating mutations in advanced lung cancer seem to benefit more from afatinib than gefitinib as first-line treatment, researchers report at the first ESMO Asia 2015 Congress in Singapore.

21 Dec 2015

Post-progression afatinib exposure boosts NSCLC outcomes

Continued exposure to afatinib plus paclitaxel can benefit non-small-cell lung cancer patients who developed resistance to erlotinib or gefitinib and progressed after initially responding to afatinib monotherapy, suggest phase III trial results.

11 Dec 2015

Lancet study compares prices of new cancer drugs in high-income countries

The price of new cancer drugs varies widely (from 28% to 388%) between high-income countries in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, new research published in The Lancet Oncology has found.

8 Dec 2015

Findings suggest link between cancer drug resistance and reactive oxygen species found in mitochondria

Increased levels of certain chemically reactive, oxygen-containing molecules in the body can cause patients to become resistant to cancer drugs such as chemotherapy, according to researchers at Georgia State University.

15 Sep 2015

AstraZeneca presents lung cancer research data at WCLC 2015

Data will be reported from across AstraZeneca’s industry-leading lung cancer portfolio at the World Conference on Lung Cancer 2015, beginning this weekend in Denver, Colorado.

8 Sep 2015

QIAGEN's therascreen EGFR RGQ PCR Kit to guide use of IRESSA for in NSCLC treatment

QIAGEN N.V. today received U.S. marketing (PMA) approval of its therascreen EGFR RGQ PCR Kit (therascreen EGFR test) as a companion diagnostic to guide the use of AstraZeneca's IRESSA (gefitinib) in the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

From QIAGEN Manchester Limited 14 Jul 2015

Alabama scientists show how phytochemical in magnolia works against head and neck cancers

Magnolias are prized for their large, colorful, fragrant flowers. Does the attractive, showy tree also harbor a potent cancer fighter?

26 Jun 2015

MedImmune, AstraZeneca present encouraging results from new combination-focused immuno-oncology portfolio at ASCO 2015

AstraZeneca and MedImmune, the company’s global biologics research and development arm, today presented encouraging results from their novel combination-focused immuno-oncology portfolio at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 2015.

2 Jun 2015

AstraZeneca announces efficacy and safety data for AZD9291 in first-line treatment of EGFRm advanced NSCLC

AstraZeneca today announced preliminary efficacy and safety data for AZD9291 in the first-line treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor mutation positive (EGFRm) advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

2 Jun 2015

Researchers identify promising combination strategy for treating glioblastomas

Therapies that specifically target mutations in a person's cancer have been much-heralded in recent years, yet cancer cells often find a way around them. To address this, researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center identified a promising combinatorial approach to treating glioblastomas, the most common form of primary brain cancer.

10 May 2015

Plasma EGFR mutation cfDNA predicts advanced lung cancer outcome

Monitoring plasma cell-free DNA levels of epidermal growth factor receptor mutations may indicate prognosis for patients with lung adenocarcinoma after EGFR–tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy, research suggests.

28 Jan 2015