Federico Cappuzzo

2014

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumors with specific mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase have been defined as ‘oncogene addicted’ to indicate their dependence on EGFR and their high susceptibility to the inhibitory effects induced by EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs; eg, gefitinib, erlotinib, afatinib). The most common EGFR mutations include a deletion in exon 19 (del E746_A750) and a point substitution in exon 21 (L858R).