Epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in non-small cell lung cancer: a basic science discovery with immediate clinical impact.
A large body of preclinical work suggested that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) would be a successful target for therapy against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and this led to the development of oral, selective EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) that improve symptoms and survival in patients with advanced NSCLC. However, not all patients benefit from this treatment, and there has been great interest in identifying the molecular correlates that predict for response to these agents. The recent detection of somatic mutations in EGFR that predict for response to the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors has excited the scientific community. This discovery has far-reaching implications, not only for lung cancer patients treated with an EGFR TKI but also for future drug development in all malignancies.
Departments of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-8852, USA. jonathan.dowell@utsouthwesten.edu
Jonathan E
JE
Dowell
D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics
D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases