Afatinib (Giotrif®)
Afatinib is a targeted cancer treatment drug used to treat lung cancer. It may also be referred to by its brand name Giotrif®.
Afatinib works by stopping the growth of certain proteins found in certain types of lung cancer called “tyrosine kinases” and “epidermal growth factor receptor proteins” which cause cancer cells to grow.
NICE do not recommend afatinib as a treatment for brain tumours. However, it is currently being given as part of a clinical trial. You should speak to your healthcare team before making any changes to your treatment or taking new medications.
Afatinib and brain tumours
There is a clinical trial in progress to test whether afatinib could be used in patients with a glioblastoma. The study aims to find out the effects of afatinib, establish the maximum dose that can be given safely and to see whether it effects the growth of cancer cells.
The clinical trial should be completed by December 2020, you can read more about the clinical trial here.
Make the right choices for you
Our Step by Step interactive guide outlines what happens following a diagnosis, to answer your questions and help you to understand what to expect.
Support and Information Services
Research & Clinical Trials Information
You can also join our active online community.
Get support
If you need someone to talk to or advice on where to get help, our Support and Information team is available by phone, email or live-chat.
Recommended reading
Share your experiences and help create change
By taking part in our Improving Brain Tumour Care surveys and sharing your experiences, you can help us improve treatment and care for everyone affected by a brain tumour.