Background:

Erlotinib (also known as NSC 718781 or CP 358,774) is a potent and orally-bioavailable inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase that selectively and reversibly inhibits EGFR-associated intracellular autophosphorylation of tyrosine kinase. Erlotinib inhibits purified EGFR tyrosine kinase and EGFR autophosphorylation intact cells with 50% inhibition concentration IC₅₀values of 2 nmol/L and 20 nmol/L respectively. Erlotinib competes for the ATP-binding sits on the intracellular domain of EGFR resulting in the inhibition of downstream signaling pathway involved in angiogenesis, cell propagation and cell survival. Erlotinib concentration-dependently inhibits EGFR-mediated propagation signals transduction, displays prominent anti-tumor activity against neoplasms harboring EGFR expression and exhibits a tolerable toxicologic profile.

Reference

[1].Janine Smith. Erlotinib: small-molecule targeted therapy in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer. Clinical Therapeutics 2005; 27(10): 1513-1534