ZD1839 ('Iressa')(1,2) as an anticancer agent

ZD1839 ('Iressa')(1,2) is an orally active, selective epidermal growth fact or receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor which blocks signal transduction path ways implicated in the proliferation and survival of cancer cells and other host-dependent processes promoting cancer growth. In preclinical studies, ZD1839 produced reversible growth inhibition and growth delay in a wide ran ge of tumour cell lines and human tumour xenografts. Moreover, this activit y was enhanced when ZD1839 was coadministered with cytotoxic agents. Prelim inary results from phase I trials in patients with advanced disease and a w ide variety of tumour types suggest that ZD1839 has an acceptable tolerabil ity profile and promising clinical efficacy particularly in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). ZD1839 is currently in phase III clinical development for the treatment of advanced NSCLC. In addition, further trials are ongoin g or planned in a number of other tumour types.