Understanding Mechanisms of Acquired Resistance to BIBW2992

In this research study we are looking to see how effective BIBW 2992 is at suppressing the development of the T790M mutation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) are proteins found on the surface of some cancer cells that promote a growth signal. Some cancer drugs for NSCLC work to block this signal from reaching its target on the cancer cells which in turn may slow or stop the cancer from growing. However, many times patients with EGFR mutations will stop responding to these cancer drugs and develop drug-resistance because they have developed a specific EGFR mutation called T790M. BIBW 2992 may prevent the T790M mutation from becoming active and therefore slow disease progression.