Authors' objectives: Bevacizumab (Avastin) with erlotinib (Tarceva) is intended to be used as a first line treatment option for patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) positive, advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Bevacizumab is a humanised immunoglobulin (IgG1) monoclonal antibody that acts as a vascular endothelial growth factor antagonist and erlotinib is an orally active inhibitor of the EGFR tyrosine kinase. In the UK, lung cancer is the second most common diagnosed cancer after breast cancer, but it is the most common cause of cancer deaths, accounting for more than 1 in 5 cancer deaths. Over 33,000 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed each year in England, 80% of these are thought to be NSCLC, and 78% are anticipated to be advanced and/or metastatic at diagnosis. Approximately 15% of NSCLC is evaluated as EGFR positive. European Society for Medical Oncology guidelines recommend that patients with NSCLC be tested for EGFR mutations before initiation of first line treatment. Bevacizumab and erlotinib are in phase II clinical trial, comparing their effect on overall survival against treatment with erlotinib monotherapy.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2015

URL for published report: http://www.hsric.nihr.ac.uk/topics/bevacizumab-avastin-with-erlotinib-tarceva-for-egfr-positive-advanced-or-metastatic-non-small-cell-lung-cancer-first-line/

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: England, United Kingdom

Organisation Name: NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre

Contact Address: The NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre, Department of Public Health, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics, School of Health and Population Sciences, University of Birmingham, 90 Vincent Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2SP. United Kingdom. Tel: +44 121 414 7831, Fax: +44 121 2269

Contact Name: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Contact Email: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Copyright: NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre (NIHR HSC)