How effective iressa (gefitinib) for lung cancer after chemo?

Only if ..: Gefitinib will only work if there is a egfr mutation detected on the cancer. It will not be effective if there is no egfr mutation detected.

Not used: Really not used anymore since the company sponsored trial showed no benefit. Now tarceva (erlotinib) has essentially replaced iressa (gefitinib). If patients have a mutation in egfr (not kras), probably better than chemotherapy. There was a trial that did show a benefit after chemotherapy in patients with a mutation. Hope this helps.