title: Biomarkers of clinical benefit for anti-epidermal growth factor receptor agents in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains by far the major cause of cancer-related death in the Western world in both men and women. The majority of patients will be diagnosed with metastatic disease, and chemotherapy doublets remain the cornerstone of treatment for these patients. However, chemotherapy has a minimal impact on long-term survival and prognosis remains poor for these patients. Further improvement in treatment is likely to require incorporation of novel targeted therapies. Among these agents, inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have demonstrated significant activity in the first-, second- or third-line treatment of NSCLC. The purpose of current paper is to present the evidence for using several proposed molecular biomarkers as a tool for selection of NSCLC patients for anti-EGFR treatment. According to current data, EGFR mutation status appears to be the strongest predictor for the selection of NSCLC patients to first-line treatment with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors vs chemotherapy. Use of other biomarkers remains investigational.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University General Hospital of Heraklion, PO Box 1352, Heraklion 71110, Crete, Greece. agpallis@gmail.com
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Pallis
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fennell
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Szutowicz
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Leighl
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Greillier
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dziadziuszko
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D011379:Prognosis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A