Dacomitinib Effective for Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

In prior phase I and II trials, dacomitinib — formerly PF-00299804, an irreversible inhibitor of the human epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs) HER1, HER2, and HER4 tyrosine kinases — demonstrated antitumor activity in patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that progressed after treatment with an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) and chemotherapy (e.g., J Clin Oncol 2009 27:422s [suppl; abstr 8063]).

Now, investigators have conducted an industry-funded, phase II, multicenter, randomized, open-label trial to determine whether dacomitinib is more effective for advanced NSCLC than erlotinib, a reversible TKI targeting HER1. A total of 188 adults with histologically confirmed advanced NSCLC (performance status, 0–2) who had rec…