Gefitinib

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ONC-003451",
  "term": "Gefitinib",
  "field": "Oncology and biomedicine",
  "definitions": [
    "A drug used to treat non-small cell lung cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and has certain mutations (changes) in the EGFR gene. It is used in patients whose cancer has not already been treated with other anticancer therapy. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Gefitinib blocks certain proteins made by the EGFR gene, which may help keep cancer cells from growing. It may also prevent the growth of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow. Gefitinib is a type of tyrosine kinase inhibitor and a type of antiangiogenesis agent. Also called Iressa and ZD1839.",
    "An anilinoquinazoline with antineoplastic activity. Gefitinib inhibits the catalytic activity of numerous tyrosine kinases including the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which may result in inhibition of tyrosine kinase-dependent tumor growth. Specifically, this agent competes with the binding of ATP to the tyrosine kinase domain of EGFR, thereby inhibiting receptor autophosphorylation and resulting in inhibition of signal transduction. Gefitinib may also induce cell cycle arrest and inhibit angiogenesis."
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    "Iressa",
    "ZD1839"
  ],
  "references": [
    "NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms",
    "National Cancer Institute Thesaurus"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/oncology/gefitinib/"
}