Erlotinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor which acts on the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), inhibiting EGFR-
associated kinase activity (IC
50 = 2.5 μM).
1,2 This inhibits tumor growth in human head and neck carcinoma HN5 tumor xenografts in mice with an ED
50 value of 9 mg/kg.
1 Erlotinib also suppresses cyclin-
dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2) activity in breast cancer cells (IC
50 = 4.6 μM) and JAK2 mutant JAK2
V617F positive hematopoietic progenitor cells (IC
50 = 5 μM), which is associated with polycythemia vera, idiopathic myelofibrosis, and essential thrombocythemia.
3,4 Formulations containing erlotinib have been used to treat certain forms of cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer.
5,6