Ethnic variation in response to EGFR inhibitors

Most patients with non-small-cell lung cancer present with advanced stage disease, for which standard therapy would be a platinum-based doublet combination. Novel targeted therapies that interfere with specific molecular signaling pathways have emerged as a new standard option for selected patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation. Clinical trials have demonstrated significant ethnic variation in tumor response to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and incidence of EGFR mutations, with a significantly higher incidence of activated EGFR mutation in Asia. This review discusses the variations and the implications for treatment.