title: Epidermal growth factor receptor modulation of radiation response: preclinical and clinical development.
abstract: Approximately two thirds of all human solid tumors derive from epithelial tissues. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) serves as an important regulator of cellular growth in epithelial tumors. A spectrum of new anticancer agents have been specifically designed to target the EGFR in an effort to inhibit malignant growth. Although several of these new drugs show single-agent activity in early clinical trials, the predominant growth effect of EGFR signaling inhibition is cytostatic. However, the interaction of EGFR inhibition combined with conventional cytotoxic therapies (radiation and chemotherapy) is more potent, and shows great promise in the treatment of a variety of solid tumors that overexpress this receptor. This report focuses primarily on the capacity of EGFR inhibitors to modulate cellular and overall tumor response to ionizing radiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, Madison 53792, USA.
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Harari
authors.forename: Shyh-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases