title: Targeted epidermal growth factor receptor therapy in malignant pleural mesothelioma: where do we stand?
abstract: The median survival for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma remains extremely poor and there is a need for the development of more effective treatment modalities. The epidermal growth factor receptor is frequently over-expressed in malignant pleural mesothelioma samples and therefore may be a potential therapeutic target. Targeted EGFR therapy has been successful in non-small cell lung cancer using small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors and in colorectal cancer using monoclonal anti-EGFR antibodies. However, phase II clinical trials based on EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy have so far not shown promise in mesothelioma. This review includes a background to targeted EGFR treatment strategies, explores putative therapy resistance mechanisms, including the role of predictive biomarkers, and describes the current status of targeted EGFR therapeutic strategies for mesothelioma patients.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Biology Proteomics Group, Postgraduate Medical Institute of the University of Hull and Hull York Medical School, Hull, UK.
authors.forename: Vijay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lind
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cawkwell
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006801:Humans; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors