title: Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies in cancer treatment.
abstract: Although the prognosis of cancer remains poor recent advances in the diagnostic methods, new approaches in surgical procedures and the development of new therapeutic agents have had a significant impact in the outcome of cancer patients. A better understanding of the molecular pathways that characterize cell growth, apoptosis, angiogenesis and invasion has provided novel targets in cancer therapy. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mediated signal transduction has been one of the most studied pathways in carcinogenesis. The phosphorylation of EGFR activates multiple biological processes including apoptosis, differentiation, cellular proliferation, motility, invasion, adhesion, DNA repair and survival. Several therapies have been developed to inactivate the EGFR pathway including monoclonal antibodies against the extracellular domain of EGFR. In this review, the authors examine the development of monoclonal antibodies against EGFR and the effects of this blockage in cell cycle, as well as the most important trials with these monoclonal antibodies in several tumor types.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Department, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain. jacapdevila@vhebron.net
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Capdevila
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elez
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Macarulla
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Echarri
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tabernero
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality; D000068818:Cetuximab; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000077544:Panitumumab; D011379:Prognosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000077544:Panitumumab; D066246:ErbB Receptors; C520777:matuzumab; D000068818:Cetuximab