Safety Profile of Mutant EGFR-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Meta-Analysis and Literature to Review

Despite the use of platinum-based chemotherapy, lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer related death in the world. To overcome the rate of lung cancer related death, scientists discovered advanced therapies including mutant Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-tyrosine kinase (EGFR-TK) inhibitors. Included in this study are nine phase 3 randomized controlled trials designed to study the safety profile of mutant EGFR-TK inhibitors in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. The study showed that mutant EGFR-TK inhibitors have an incidence of adverse effects that is far less than platinum-based chemotherapy. Adverse effects reported were tolerable and easily manageable by slowing the infusion rate, decreasing the dosage, and skipping a dosage in symptomatic patients.