title: Targeting the EGFR signaling pathway in cancer therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cancer is a devastating disease; however, several therapeutic advances have recently been made, wherein EGFR and its family members have emerged as useful biomarkers and therapeutic targets. EGFR, a transmembrane glycoprotein is a member of the ERBB receptor tyrosine kinase superfamily. EGFR binds to its cognate ligand EGF, which further induces tyrosine phosphorylation and receptor dimerization with other family members leading to enhanced uncontrolled proliferation. Several anti-EGFR therapies such as monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been developed, which has enabled clinicians to identify and treat specific patient cohorts.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review covers the basic mechanism of EGFR activation and the role of EGFR signaling in cancer progression. Furthermore, current developments made toward targeting the EGFR signaling pathway for the treatment of epithelial cancers and a summary of the various anti-EGFR therapeutic agents that are currently in use are also presented in this review.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EGFR signaling is a part of a complex network that has been the target of effective cancer therapies. However, a further understanding of the system is required to develop an effective anticancer regimen. A combination therapy that comprises an anti-EGFR and a chemotherapeutic/chemopreventive agent will exhibit a multi-pronged approach that can be developed into a highly attractive and specific molecular oriented remedy.
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska Medical Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA.
authors.forename: Parthasarathy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seshacharyulu
authors.forename: Moorthy P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ponnusamy
authors.forename: Dhanya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Haridas
authors.forename: Maneesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Apar K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Ganti
authors.forename: Surinder K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Batra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases