Role of anti-EGFR target therapy in colorectal carcinoma.
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has become an important target in cancer treatment. In consequence, drugs directed at this and other molecular targets are an increasingly important part of the treatment of numerous tumours. Cetuximab and panitumumab, two monoclonal antibodies that target EGFR, have proved to be effective in metastatic colorectal cancer treatment. However, some patients do not respond to treatment with EGFR inhibitors and, for this reason, interest in the identification of patients most likely to benefit from treatment with these agents has grown considerably. K-Ras, a member of the RAS family of signalling proteins plays an important role in EGFR- mediated regulation of cellular proliferation and survival. Patients with wild-type K-Ras were found to have significantly greater overall survival, progression-free survival and/or response rate compared with patients harbouring K-Ras mutations.
Medical Oncology Department, University Hospital of Reina Sofia (Cordoba), Spain. earandaa@seom.org
Aranda-Aguilar
AA
Enrique
Pulido-Cortijo
PC
Gema
Jimenez-Castro
JC
Jeronimo
Gomez-Espana Maria
GE
Auxiliadora
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068818:Cetuximab; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006801:Humans; D000077544:Panitumumab
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077544:Panitumumab; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000068818:Cetuximab