title: Epidermal growth factor receptor as a major anticancer drug target.
abstract: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is the best characterised member of the ErbB family of receptors. A lot of effort has been made to exploit the therapeutic potential of drugs acting on this receptor pathway. Monoclonal antibodies and oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors have undergone a thorough evaluation, both as single agents and in combination. However, over recent years, cancer cells have been shown to be able to harness different growth factor signalling pathways, so that single-agent therapy may not be the best way to use anti-EGFR drugs. Combinations with downstream effectors or other receptor-targeted therapies, or antiangiogenic compounds can be looked at more optimistically as effective weapons.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale Tumouri Fondazione G. Pascale, Via M. Semmola, 80131 Napoli, Italy. caponigrof@libero.it
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caponigro
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milano
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ottaiano
authors.forename: Rosario Vincenzo
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Iaffaioli
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D066246:ErbB Receptors