Numerous clinical trials have demonstrated that both the first-generation EGFR-TKIs such as gefitinib and erlotinib, and the second-generation EGFR-TKIs represented by afatinib achieved superior efficacy in the treatment of the EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients (4, 5). The gene discussed is EGFR; the disease is non-small cell lung carcinoma.