title: Epidermal growth factor receptor: a promising target in solid tumours.
abstract: The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is expressed in a wide variety of solid tumours. It has been demonstrated that the EGFR-associated signaling pathway plays an important role in carcinogenesis and cancer progression. In the new therapeutic paradigm of molecular-targeted cancer therapy, interference with intracellular signaling cascades is an appealing treatment approach. Inhibitory strategies under study include monoclonal antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, EGFR-ligand conjugates, EGFR immunoconjugates, and antisense oligonucleotides. Many of these strategies have demonstrated efficacy against EGFR-expressing tumour cells in preclinical studies, prompting a large number of clinical trials. In particular, clinical studies using monoclonal antibody blockade and EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors have suggested that EGFR blockade is a well-tolerated and effective treatment strategy; however, more trials are needed to precisely define how these agents will fit into modern cancer care.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, 600 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6, Canada. jlaskin@bccancer.bc.ca
authors.forename: Janessa J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Laskin
authors.forename: Alan B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Sandler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases