title: Epidermal growth factor receptor biology (IMC-C225).
abstract: Treatment of solid tumors despite improved techniques in detection, surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy remains difficult. Therefore, strategies to improve efficacy in accord with safety are needed. Many epithelial cancers have been found to overexpress the receptor to epidermal growth factor (EGFR), including head and neck, breast, colon, lung, prostate, kidney, ovary, brain, pancreas, and bladder. Because overexpression of EGFR has been associated with an overall poor prognosis in patients with cancer, a number of strategies to block or downregulate EGFR have been developed to inhibit tumor proliferation and improve overall clinical outcome. These include monoclonal antibodies to the EGFR, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, ligand-linked toxins, and antisense approaches. Antibodies such as IMC-C225 specifically target EGF receptors, whereas tyrosine kinase inhibition by many small molecules is less specific. Ultimately, IMC-C225 may prove to become a valuable contributor in the treatment of cancer. This report will focus on IMC-C225, a novel monoclonal antibody that targets the EGFR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA. edkim@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Khuri
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Herbst
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000068818:Cetuximab; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015536:Down-Regulation; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D011379:Prognosis; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008024:Ligands; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D000068818:Cetuximab