What are biological therapies?
Biological therapies are anti-cancer treatments and are sometimes also called targeted therapies. They are tablets which are taken once a day. They work by blocking the EGFR on cells, which can then stop the cancer cells from growing and spreading. They are used to treat patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose cancer cells are EGFR positive.

Why do I need tested?
Research has shown that biological therapies work best for people whose lung cancer is EGFR positive.  EGFR testing is therefore recommended to find out if the biological therapy is the most suitable treatment for you.

How is the test done?
Your doctor will have already taken tissue to diagnose your lung cancer. Pathologists in the hospital laboratory will use this existing tissue to test for EGFR mutations. This may take a few additional days after your original diagnosis

Click on this for more information about EGFR testing

How will the results affect the type of treatment I am offered?

If your test results show that you are EGFR mutation positive it is likely that you will be offered a  biological therapy called Gefitinib (brand name Iressa) or Erlotinib (brand name Tarceva). Another drug in this group is called Afatinib which can be used in specific circumstances as a third line treament.

For more information about Gefitinib please click here.

For more information about Erlotinib please click here.

For more information about Afatinib please click here.

Your doctor or Lung Cancer Nurse Specialist will talk through the reasoning for the choice of treatment with you. Research has shown that Gefitanib is better for EGFR mutation positive people with NSCLC which is locally advanced or has spread than chemotherapy as a first treatment for lung cancer.

If your test shows that you are not EGFR mutation positive then you may be offered chemotherapy as the first type of treatment you receive. If you have already had one course of chemotherapy and have NSCLC which is getting worse, you may be offered Erlotinib. There is no requirement for EGFR testing when Erlotinib is given after one course of chemotherapy.

Understanding EGFR testing is complicated and is quite difficult to explain. Please don't worry if you don't fully understand the information on this page. Your doctor or lung cancer nurse specialist specialist who can go over it with you.

Health Professionals may find this link helpful for requesting information and materials for patients who are receiving Erlotinib http://www.mylunar.co.uk/portal/lunar