Two Targets, One Drug for New EGFR Inhibitors

Abstract

The new drug that garnered the most media attention at this year's American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting was lapatinib (Tykerb), a targeted agent that showed a tumor response in metastatic breast cancer resistant to trastuzumab (Herceptin). In an international phase III trial, lapatinib with capecitabine significantly improved the time to progression compared with capecitabine alone. The findings prompted early closing of the trial and put lapatinib on track for regulatory review later this year.