Dr. Bunn Discusses Afatinib in Lung Cancer

Paul A. Bunn, Jr, MD, professor of medicine in medical oncology, head of the division of medical oncology, University of Colorado, discusses afatinib for patients with an activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation.

Afatinib is a second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor that binds to the activating mutations in EGFR and has been approved by the FDA, Bunn says. There is also an EGFR mutation test that goes with the drug.

Unlike erlotinib and gefitinib, Bunn says, afatinib binds to T790M, which could lead to a longer time to resistance. Afatinib is similar to erlotinib and gefitinib in that it can cause diarrhea and skin toxicities, Bunn says.

While afatinib seems to show the same benefit as erlotinib and gefitinib, it has yet to be determined if it is actually better than those agents.