title: HER family inhibitors in pancreatic cancer: current status and future directions.
abstract: Pancreatic cancer is characterized by multiple genetic abnormalities that can be used as targets for specific therapeutics. The HER family consists of four transmembrane growth factor receptors. Targeting HER1 with the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib demonstrated a survival advantage for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Multiple other agents that target members of the HER family are under investigation. These include reversible and irreversible, single and pan HER tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Chimeric, humanized and fully human monoclonal antibodies that target specific HER receptors are also being studied. These agents are also radiation sensitizers. This article reviews clinical trials of HER family inhibitors in pancreatic cancer, discusses the role of these agents in the management of patients and outlines future directions for pancreatic cancer management.
authors.affiliation: The Brown University Oncology Group, 164 Summit Avenue, Providence, RI 02906, USA. hsafran@lifespan.org
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berz
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miner
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McCormack
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Safran
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases