Effects of Erlotinib after Acquired Resistance to Gefitinib in Advanced Non-small-cell Lung Cancer

Patients with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may get benefit from epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) but eventually develop acquired resistance to these. Here, we report a case of advanced NSCLC patient who developed resistance to gefitinib but then got benefit from erlotinib. The patient first received palliative chemotherapy, after that commenced gefitinib for maintenance therapy. When developed acquired resistance to gefitinib, two cycles of chemotherapy were provided but failed to control his disease progression. He was rechallenged with another TKI-erlotinib as salvage treatment. So far, the patient still received erlotinib treatment and his disease was stable. Nowadays, TKI resistance is becoming meaningful and attracting more attention. The choices for those with an initial dramatic clinical response to TKI then finally developed acquired resistance are controversial and needed further research.