title: Epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted therapy for pancreatic cancer.
abstract: Clinical and experimental work supports the view that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a relevant target for cancer therapy. Expression of EGFR is exaggerated in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and activation of EGFR appears to have an important role in the growth and differentiation of this and other types of cancers. EGFR-targeted therapeutic approaches have shown clinical activity in advanced human cancers for which chemotherapy over the last 30 years has sustained a mere palliative role at best. Therefore, the need remains for novel anti-cancer therapies that effectively and specifically target epithelial tumor cells while minimizing the toxic side-effects commonly associated with cytotoxic conventional therapies. Agents capable of inhibiting EGFR activity with resultant inhibition of cell proliferation and angiogenesis have significant potential as chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinomas as well as multiple other malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri 65203, USA.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Papageorgio
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Perry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000068818:Cetuximab; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000068818:Cetuximab