title: Epidermal growth factor receptor targeted therapies for solid tumours.
abstract: The majority of human epithelial cancers is frequently characterized by a functional activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-driven-pathways. Today, two classes of EGFR inhibitors are routinely used in the clinic: anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies such as cetuximab and panitumumab and small-molecule inhibitors of the EGFR tyrosine kinase activity such as erlotinib and gefitinib. Anti-EGFR therapies have been approved in several countries for the treatment of metastatic nonsmall-cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck, and pancreatic cancer. This article summarizes the clinical evidence of the anticancer activity of anti-EGFR treatment, and considers the current, and controversial, clinical issues with respect to their optimal use in the treatment of patients with cancer. Mechanisms of resistance to anti-EGFR treatment are also briefly discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Centre du Cancer, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van den Eynde
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Baurain
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mazzeo
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Machiels
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D000068818:Cetuximab; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D066246:ErbB Receptors; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; D000068818:Cetuximab