Indications: a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is used in combination with gemcitabine for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer. It is also for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer after failure of previous chemotherapy and as monotherapy for maintenance treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with stable disease after four cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy.

Cautions: pre-existing liver disease or concomitant use with hepatotoxic drugs—monitor liver function; dose adjustment may be necessary if smoking started or stopped during treatment; Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Inhibitors: Serious Cases of Keratitis and Ulcerative Keratitis;

Hepatic impairment: manufacturer advises caution in mild to moderate impairment; avoid in severe impairment

Renal impairment: manufacturer advises avoid in severe impairment

Pregnancy: manufacturer advises avoid—toxicity in animal studies; effective contraception required during and for at least 2 weeks after treatment;

Breast-feeding: manufacturer advises avoid—no information available

Side Effects: common to most cytotoxic drugs also diarrhoea, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, flatulence; anorexia, depression, neuropathy, headache; fatigue, rigor; conjunctivitis; pruritus, dry skin; less commonly gastro-intestinal perforation, interstitial lung disease— discontinue if unexplained symptoms such as dyspnea, cough or fever occur; eyelash changes; rarely hepatic failure; very rarely corneal perforation or ulceration, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Dose: Non-small cell lung cancer, 150 mg once daily Pancreatic cancer, 100 mg once daily in combination with gemcitabine.