title: Novel combinations based on epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition.
abstract: In spite of recent advances in molecular biology leading to the introduction of clinically active novel agents, such as imatinib, erlotinib, and bevacizumab, therapy of the most common epithelial tumors, such as lung cancer, remains unsuccessful. The diversity of molecular abnormalities in these tumors is felt to partly contribute to their resistance to therapy. It is, therefore, widely accepted that one approach to improving the efficacy of cancer therapy is the development of rational, hypothesis-based combinations of anticancer agents that may exhibit synergistic cytotoxic interactions. A number of empirical combination studies with the epidermal growth factor receptor and classic cytotoxic agents were undertaken in clinical trials, with disappointing results. It is, therefore, felt that preclinical combinations of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors and other novel agents, based on sound knowledge of complementary signaling pathways whose concerted inhibition would be hypothesized to inhibit growth, is the reasonable approach in the future. A brief overview of some of these pathways (mammalian target of rapamycin, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, and ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling) is provided in this review.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. adjei.alex@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Alex A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Adjei
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D048490:raf Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011494:Protein Kinases; C546842:MTOR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; D048490:raf Kinases; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases