title: Epidermal growth factor inhibition in solid tumours.
abstract: The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an important role in the carcinogenesis of many human malignancies and is therefore an attractive target against which anticancer therapy may be effective. At present, there are two ways in which this may be achieved clinically: antibodies against EGFR and inhibitors of the EGFR tyrosine kinase. This review describes presently approved agents cetuximab (monoclonal EGFR antibody), gefitinib and erlotinib (EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors) in detail. Efficacy data for these agents in various human malignancies is presented. Various other agents that are in the early stages of development at present have also been mentioned.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oncology-Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-7680, USA. aganti@unmc.edu
authors.forename: Apar Kishor
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Ganti
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Potti
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D000068818:Cetuximab; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D000077544:Panitumumab; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D011758:Pyrroles; D011799:Quinazolines; D000077544:Panitumumab; C410026:PKI 166; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000068818:Cetuximab; D000077156:Gefitinib