The challenging estrogen receptor-negative/ progesterone receptor-negative/HER-2-negative patient: a promising candidate for epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted therapy?
While epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted therapy has been very promising in a number of human malignancies, to date these targeted biologic agents have not proven effective in breast cancer. However, the EGFR tyrosinase inhibitors have been used indiscriminately against all types of breast tumors, perhaps missing a subpopulation of patients who may be prime candidates for EGFR-targeted therapy. In this communication we propose that patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-negative/progesterone receptor (PR)-negative/HER-2-negative tumors, which currently present a therapeutic challenge for the oncologist, may be the subgroup of breast cancer patients that might benefit from specific EGFR-targeted therapies.
Siziopikou
Kalliopi P
KP
Department of Pathology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. Kalliopi_p_Siziopikou@rush.edu
Ariga
Reshma
R
Proussaloglou
Kimon E
KE
Gattuso
Paolo
P
Cobleigh
Melody
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone