Clinical experience with anti-EGFR therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To review clinical experience and studies with anti-EGFR therapies in metastatic CRC, SCCHN, and NSCLC. Case studies in each tumor type will also be outlined.


METHODS
Research articles and patient case histories.


CONCLUSIONS
Several phase II/III trials have shown the activity of anti-EGFR therapy in CRC, SCCHN, and NSCLC. Treatment confers substantial clinical benefit with improved symptoms, particularly in previously treated patients. Toxicity of anti-EGFR therapies is generally manageable and non-overlapping with other treatment options, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
It is important for nurses to further advance our understanding of anti-EGFR therapies and continue to encourage patient enrollment in ongoing trials of anti-EGFR therapy.
Fish-Steagall
Anne
A
Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 3009 Old Clinic Building, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. afs@med.unc.edu
Searcy
Polly
P
Sipples
Rebecca
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D000068818:Cetuximab; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012449:Safety; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000068818:Cetuximab; D000077156:Gefitinib