The Effects of Gefitinib in EGFR Mutation Breast-Cancer

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The Effects of Gefitinib in EGFR Mutation
Breast-Cancer
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Nearly 1 in 5 cases of breast cancer, high levels
of a protein known as epidermal growth factor
receptor or EGFR has been observed. This protein
can cause the cancer cells to grow at a faster
rate. This results in shorter survival period for
patients of breast cancer and also build up
resistance to hormonal therapy.
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As such an EGFR targeted therapy drug such as
Iressa / gefitinib may provide successful results
in treating certain kinds of breast
cancer.   Generic Gefitinib Brand Iressa by
AstraZeneca   Gefitinib tablet generally comes in
the dosage of 250 mg.   Gefitinib / Iressa
medication cost information
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• Researchers have explored this treatment concept
  that iressa / gefitinib in combination with
  fulvestrant (an estrogen receptor antagonist) can
  have a positive impact on the hormonal therapys
  anti-tumour effect.
• This combination of iressa / gefitinib with
  fulvestrant was used for treating different
  breast cancer types
• Postmenopausal breast cancer
• Although menopause itself is not a risk factor
  for breast cancer. Breast cancer is more common
  at old ages. In a few cases, the medication that
  are used to manage symptoms of menopause can
  increase the chances of breast cancer.

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• Postmenopausal breast cancer with inflammatory
  skin metastasis with increased levels of HER2/neu
  gene amplification
• HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2)
  is a protein that is enables cell growth in some
  breast cancer cells.
• Breast Cancer types that have increased amounts
  of HER2 protein are considered to be HER2
  positive.
• HER2 protein positive cancer cells can be treated
  with certain targeted therapy medications.

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• ER-positive hormone refractory breast cancer
• The status of hormone receptor indicates whether
  a type of breast cancer requires hormones for its
  growth.
• The breast cancer cells would require hormones to
  grow if they are hormone receptor positive.
  Alternatively, hormone receptor negative means
  that the cancer cells do not need hormones to
  grow.

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• Estrogen-positive breast cancer
• Some types of breast cancers are dependent on
  estrogen to grow and spread. If the status of the
  breast cancer is estrogen receptor positive, it
  needs estrogen to grow. If the status of the
  breast cancer is estrogen receptor negative, it
  does not need estrogen to grow.

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• Results
• It was observed that the use of iressa /
  gefitinib enhanced the cytotoxic effects of
  fulvestrant by the way of blocking the cell cycle
  transition to DNA synthesis and increasing
  apoptosis.
• In patients with hormone resistant HER-2 positive
  breast cancers, iressa / gefitinib may also
  restore the sensitivity to tamoxifen.

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Iressa / gefitinib has also been observed to
increase apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation
in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ or
DCIS. It has been proven effective with ER
positive and negative DCIS. Currently, the
impact of iressa / gefitinib on recurrent breast
cancer is still under research. The objective of
future studies on this medication is to determine
its potential impact on treating breast cancer.
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Gefitinib / Iressa medication cost
information   The information provided on the
page is meant for the purpose of being helpful
and educational. It should not be considered as
medical advice.
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