Combined treatment with irinotecan and an epidermal growth factor receptor kinase inhibitor

摘要

The present invention provides a method for treating tumors or tumor metastases in a patient, comprising administering to the patient simultaneously or sequentially a therapeutically effective amount of an EGFR kinase inhibitor and irinotecan combination, with or without additional agents or treatments, such as other anti-cancer drugs or radiation therapy. The invention also encompasses a pharmaceutical composition that is comprised of an EGFR kinase inhibitor and irinotecan combination in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A preferred example of an EGFR kinase inhibitor that can be used in practicing this invention is the compound erlotinib HCl (also known as Tarceva(TM)).