Learn About EGFR Positive Lung Cancer

What is the definition of EGFR Positive Lung Cancer?
EGFR, or epidermal growth factor receptor, is a protein that is important for proper cell growth and division. In some cases of non-small cell lung cancer, a mutation can cause EGFR to be overexpressed, resulting in uncontrolled cell growth. Roughly 15% of cases of non-small cell lung cancer in the United States involve an EGFR mutation.
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What are the causes of EGFR Positive Lung Cancer?
The majority of EGFR mutations are somatic, meaning that changes in DNA occur during a person's lifetime instead of being inherited. These types of mutations may occur from smoking or secondhand smoke exposure, air pollution, asbestos or radon exposure, or exposure to certain metals or chemicals. EGFR mutations tend to affect certain populations more than others including people of Asian heritage, women, and individuals with lung adenocarcinoma. Less commonly, individuals can inherit a mutation in the EGFR gene known as T790M when they are born. This mutation can put those individuals at a higher risk for developing lung cancer.
What are the symptoms of EGFR Positive Lung Cancer?
Early EGFR positive lung cancer may not cause any symptoms. As the condition progresses, individuals may experience chronic cough, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, wheezing, fatigue, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, and chest pain. Symptoms that appear in the later stages of EGFR positive lung cancer may include hoarseness or changing voice, difficulty swallowing, eyelid drooping, facial swelling, nail abnormalities, bone, joint, and shoulder pain, and weakness.
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What are the current treatments for EGFR Positive Lung Cancer?
Depending on the stage of EGFR positive lung cancer as well as the specific mutation involved, there are a variety of options available. If the cancer has not spread and is in an early stage, individuals may be able to undergo surgery to completely remove the cancer. There are also a variety of drug options called EGFR inhibitors that prevent unregulated cell growth. Some examples of EGFR inhibitors include Afatinib (Gilotrif), Erlotinib (Tarceva), Gefitinib (Iressa), Osimertinib (Tagrisso), Dacomitinib (Vizimpro), and Necitumumab (Portrazza). Treatment plans, including the type of EGFR inhibitor used, are typically specialized based on the specific EGFR mutation. Individuals with EGFR positive lung cancer may also be able to take part in clinical trials that offer newer or more experimental treatments.
Who are the top EGFR Positive Lung Cancer Local Doctors?
HW
Dr. Heather A. Wakelee
Oncology
Elite
Highly rated in
18
conditions
Oncology

Stanford Health Care

Thoracic Cancer Program In Palo Alto

875 Blake Wilbur Dr 
Palo Alto, CA 94304

Heather Wakelee is an Oncologist in Palo Alto, California. Dr. Wakelee has been practicing medicine for over 26 years and is rated as an Elite doctor by MediFind in the treatment of EGFR Positive Lung Cancer. She is also highly rated in 18 other conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Lung Cancer, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer NCSLC, EGFR Positive Lung Cancer, and Squamous Cell Lung Carcinoma. She is licensed to treat patients in California. Dr. Wakelee is currently accepting new patients.

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TS
Dr. Thomas E. Stinchcombe
Oncology | Hematology Oncology
Elite
Highly rated in
13
conditions
Oncology
Hematology Oncology

Duke Health

Duke Cancer Center

20 Duke Medicine Cir 
Durham, NC 27710

Thomas Stinchcombe is an Oncologist and a Hematologist Oncology doctor in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Stinchcombe has been practicing medicine for over 27 years and is rated as an Elite doctor by MediFind in the treatment of EGFR Positive Lung Cancer. He is also highly rated in 13 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer NCSLC, Lung Cancer, Squamous Cell Lung Carcinoma, and EGFR Positive Lung Cancer. He is licensed to treat patients in North Carolina. Dr. Stinchcombe is currently accepting new patients.

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RS
Dr. Ravi Salgia
Oncology | Internal Medicine
Elite
Highly rated in
22
conditions
Oncology
Internal Medicine

City Of Hope Medical Foundation

1601 Avocado Ave 
Newport Beach, CA 92660

Ravi Salgia is an Oncologist and an Internal Medicine doctor in Newport Beach, California. Dr. Salgia is rated as an Elite doctor by MediFind in the treatment of EGFR Positive Lung Cancer. He is also highly rated in 22 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Lung Cancer, Small Cell Lung Cancer SCLC, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer NCSLC, and EGFR Positive Lung Cancer. He is licensed to treat patients in Illinois and California.

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What are the support groups for EGFR Positive Lung Cancer?
Groups such as EGFR Resisters (https://egfrcancer.org/) offer support for individuals with EGFR positive lung cancer. There are also support groups that focus more generally on non-small cell lung cancer: Cancer Support Community: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer - https://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/non-small-cell-lung-cancer American Lung Association, Lung Cancer Support Groups - https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer/patients/find-support/support-groups
What is the outlook (prognosis) for EGFR Positive Lung Cancer?
Many targeted treatments have been developed for EGFR positive lung cancer in recent years, which has given patients much more hope. Individuals who receive an early diagnosis and/or targeted treatments are likely to have the best outcomes.
What are the possible complications of EGFR Positive Lung Cancer?
Complications of EGFR positive lung cancer can include shortness of breath, fluid accumulation around the lung and in the chest (pleural effusion), coughing up blood (hemoptysis), pain, nausea, headache. There is also a chance that cancer can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body through tissue, the lymph system, or blood.
When should I contact a medical professional for EGFR Positive Lung Cancer?
It is important to call your doctor if you have symptoms of lung cancer, chronic cough, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, wheezing, fatigue, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, and chest pain, especially if you smoke. After receiving a non-small cell lung cancer diagnosis, individuals can undergo genetic testing to identify any genetic abnormalities such as EGFR mutations.
What are the latest EGFR Positive Lung Cancer Clinical Trials?
An Open-Label, Multicenter, Phase 1 Study With Expansion Cohorts of Ramucirumab or Necitumumab in Combination With Osimertinib in Patients With Advanced T790M-Positive EGFR-Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer After Progression on First-Line EGFR TKI Therapy
Who is this study for: Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Status: Active, not recruiting
Start Date: October 24, 2016
Intervention Type: Drug
Study Drugs: Necitumumab, Ramucirumab, Osimertinib
Phase: Phase 1
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Summary: The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety of ramucirumab or necitumumab in combination with osimertinib in participants with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
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A Phase III, Randomized, Double-blind Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Lazertinib Versus Gefitinib as the First-line Treatment in Patients With Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Sensitizing Mutation Positive, Locally Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Who is this study for: Patients with locally advanced or metastatic Non-small Cell Lung Cancer with EGFR mutations
Status: Active, not recruiting
Start Date: February 13, 2020
Intervention Type: Drug
Study Drugs: Gefitinib
Phase: Phase 3
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Summary: This Phase III study will be conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of YH25448 as first-line treatment in locally advanced or metastatic Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR mutations
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What are the Latest Advances for EGFR Positive Lung Cancer?
Aumolertinib Effectively Reduces Clinical Symptoms of an EGFR L858R-Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Case Coupled With Osimertinib-Induced Cardiotoxicity: Case Report and Review.
Condition: Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor L858R-Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Coupled With Osimertinib-Induced Cardiotoxicity
Journal: Frontiers in endocrinology
Treatment Used: Aumolertinib vs. Osimertinib
Number of Patients: 1
Published: June 09, 2022
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Summary: Aumolertinib Effectively Reduces Clinical Symptoms of an EGFR L858R-Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Case Coupled With Osimertinib-Induced Cardiotoxicity: Case Report and Review.
The effect of afatinib and radiotherapy on a patient with lung adenocarcinoma with a rare EGFR extracellular domain M277E mutation and high PD-L1 expression.
Condition: Lung Adenocarcinoma
Journal: Journal of cancer research and therapeutics
Treatment Used: Afatinib and Radiotherapy
Number of Patients: 1
Published: June 01, 2022
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Summary: The effect of afatinib and radiotherapy on a patient with lung adenocarcinoma with a rare EGFR extracellular domain M277E mutation and high PD-L1 expression.
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Amivantamab compared with real-world therapies in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer harboring EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations who progressed after platinum-based chemotherapy.
Condition: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Journal: Lung cancer (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Treatment Used: Amivantamab versus Real-World Therapies
Number of Patients: 206
Published: May 21, 2022
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Summary: Amivantamab compared with real-world therapies in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer harboring EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations who progressed after platinum-based chemotherapy.
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