What targeted therapy is used for EGFR-mutated lung cancer?

Targeted therapy for EGFR-mutated lung cancer focuses on inhibiting the activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is often mutated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Erlotinib and gefitinib are both tyrosine kinase inhibitors specifically designed to block the signaling pathways that promote tumor growth and proliferation in cancer cells with EGF receptor mutations.

These therapies are effective at managing the disease due to their action on the molecular abnormalities that drive the cancer, making them first-line treatments for patients with EGFR mutations. In contrast, other options listed do not directly target the EGFR pathway. Bevacizumab, for instance, is an anti-angiogenic agent that inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) rather than EGFR. Nivolumab is an immune checkpoint inhibitor that works on the PD-1 pathway and is used for various cancers but does not specifically target EGFR. Cetuximab is primarily utilized in colorectal cancer and head and neck cancers, typically for tumors expressing EGFR but is not standard for lung cancer therapies. Therefore, erlotinib and gefitinib represent the targeted approaches specifically appropriate for lung cancer with EGFR mutations.