Erlotinib active in gastro-oesophageal cancers

摘要

Grade 2 skin rash was the most common toxic effect, and mild and controllable diarrhoea was common in both groups. Two (5%) patients withgastro-oesphageal-junctioncan-cer reported grade 3 diarrhoea. Three patients had grade 4 toxic effects, including haemorrhage in the CNS.Bhudev Das (Institute of Cytology and Preventive Oncology, Noida, India) comments that: "The study is important but is too preliminary [to draw conclusions because] the drug has strong toxicity including effects on liver function. Further studies, standardisation, and longer follow-up are needed to [ascertain] toxicities including genotoxic effects".