Resistance I. acquired resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer

The discovery of mutated oncogenes has changed the standard approach in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and opened up a new era for the development of personalized treatment for those patients with sensitizing mutation of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR). Nevertheless, the occurrence of clinical resistance limits the long-term results of these novel agents. The identification of these mechanisms of acquired resistance (AR) to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) is crucial to develop potential therapeutic strategies to overcome resistance. However, in up to 30% of cases, the underlying mechanisms of AR are still unexplained. In this chapter we will focus on the AR mechanisms to EGFR-TKI and some therapeutic strategies currently under study to overcome resistance, and briefly in the mechanisms of primary resistance to EGFR-TKI.