afatinib + cetuximab

Afatinib + cetuximab is a combination therapy for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with activating mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene, particularly after progression on first-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Afatinib is an irreversible ErbB family blocker that inhibits signaling from EGFR, HER2, and HER4. Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody that binds to the extracellular domain of EGFR, blocking ligand binding and receptor activation. The combination has shown preclinical and clinical activity in overcoming resistance to first- or third-generation TKIs, especially in cases with T790M or L718Q mutations[1][2][5]. However, when used as front-line therapy for treatment-naïve patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC, the combination did not improve progression-free survival compared to afatinib alone and was associated with increased toxicity[4][7].

Brand names

Gilotrif + ErbituxGiotrif + Erbitux

Other names

afatinib and cetuximabafatinib plus cetuximab