This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Prommer, E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Prommer, E. Pubmed/NCBI databases Compound via MeSH Substance via MeSH Medline Plus Health Information Cancer Chemotherapy Lung Cancer Palliative Care Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Gefitinib: A new agent in palliative care

Department of Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology; Veterans Integrated Program, GLA Healthcare, Los Angeles, California

In 2003, gefitinib (Iressa^®, AstraZaneca, London, UK) in 250 mg tablet form received accelerated approval by the US Food and Drug Administration. Gefitinib targets the cancer cell at the molecular level and has the ability to palliate lung cancer symptoms. Gefitinib’s ability to control symptoms with minimal toxicity provides physicians with a new option to complement current symptom control methods. It is nonmarrow suppressive and seems to have an ability to control symptoms quickly, even in the absence of obvious tumor reduction. However, further studies are needed to compare gefitinib’s ability to control symptoms with intensive palliative modalities for lung cancer, such as opioids, oxygen, and radiation therapy.

Key Words: gefitinib • symptom management • cancer pain • pharmacotherapy

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, Vol. 21, No. 3, 222-227 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/104990910402100313


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?