Non- small-cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung cancer. It accounts for over 80% of all cases, making it the most prevalent type of cancer. It’s also a highly aggressive cancer that has a high mortality rate when left untreated.
In this blog, we’ll break down what you need to know about Osimertinib and why it’s a promising new option for treating non- small-cell lung cancer. We’ll also provide some helpful tips on how to take care of yourself during treatment and make sure you have everything you need to fight this disease once and for all!
What is Osimertinib?
Osimertinib is a type of drug called an epidermal growth factor receptor kinase inhibitor (EGFR-k). It blocks the action of a protein called EGFR, which is found in non- small-cell lung cancer cells. Osimertinib works by blocking the actions of this protein, thus inhibiting tumor growth and stopping it from spreading.
What are the clinical trials for Osimertinib?
Osimertinib is currently undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of non- small-cell lung cancer. It is an oral drug that blocks the signaling pathway of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Osimertinib is highly active in inhibiting tumor cells from growing and spreading.
Currently, there are two Phase 3 trials ongoing with Osimertinib:
1) OSI-774 – A Phase 3 Trial to Evaluate CTTRx101 in Combination With Carboplatin, Pemetrexed, and Oxaliplatin in Patients With Unresectable Stage III Non- Small Cell Lung Cancer
2) OSI-810 – A Phase 3 Trial to Evaluate CTTRx101 Plus Pemetrexed Disodium in Patients With Unresectable Stage III Non- Small Cell Lung Cancer
How does Osimertinib work?
Osimertinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that blocks the activity of a gene called EGFR. EGFR is associated with non- small-cell lung cancer and has been identified as a target for chemotherapy drugs.
When Osimertinib binds to EGFR and inhibits its activity, it suppresses tumor growth and prevents further spread of the cancerous cells. This means that Osimertinib can provide another treatment option, alongside chemotherapy drugs, for certain patients with non- small-cell lung cancer.
How long has it been around?
Osimertinib was first approved by the FDA on July 29th, 2016. It’s been around for about a year and a half.
Why is Osimertinib such a promising treatm ent for non- small-cell lung cancer?
Non- small-cell lung cancer is a tough diagnosis.Osimertinib is different than other treatments on the market because it stops the uncontrollable growth of these abnormal cells, which makes them less aggressive and easier to treat. With this new drug, you have a greater chance of surviving more quickly and without major side effects.
This drug has shown great promise for treating many different types of cancers without any major side effects.
What are the side effects of Osimertinib?
The most common side effects of Osimertinib are fatigue, diarrhea, and constipation.
Other side effects may include low blood pressure, muscle pain, low red blood cell count, high white blood cell count, and low platelet count.
Your doctor will be able to monitor your white blood cell levels in order to make sure they’re not too low.
When should I start treatment with Osimertinib?
In order to be considered a candidate for treatment with Osimertinib, you should have stage IV non- small-cell lung cancer. In other words, you should have had four or more lines of PRCA tissue in your lungs as well as evidence that tumor spread has occurred in the other parts of your body.
Where can I get more information about this drug?
If you’d like to know more about Osimertinib, we have a list of helpful links for you below.
-What is Osimertinib?
-How does it work?
-Who should use this drug?
-Where can I get more information about the side effects?
Treatment with Osimertinib.
It’s an anti- epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor and it works by blocking a protein that helps turn cells into cancerous ones.
This drug is only available as a pill, but fortunately, it has fewer side effects than chemotherapy drugs commonly used to treat non- small-cell lung cancer. The most common side effect is diarrhea, which typically lasts two weeks after you first start taking the drug. Other potential side effects include fatigue and cough. This is why it’s important to be sure that you have enough to eat during treatment with Osimertinib so you can maintain your strength.
The effectiveness of this drug depends on how well you tolerate it, so make sure to tell your doctor if you experience any side effects while taking the drug!
If you have any questions about treatment with Osimertinib or are unsure about what your options are for treating non- small-cell lung cancer, don’t hesitate to speak with your doctor!