title: Epidermal growth factor receptor: an important target in esophageal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Even after complete tumor removal by surgery, the clinical outcomes remain poor in patients with advanced esophageal cancer, justifying the need for new treatment options. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a molecular target for antibody-based therapy in various cancer types, and it may play important roles in the development of esophageal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review evaluates the expression, function, and mechanism of EGFR in esophageal cancer and analyzes its value for the prognosis and therapy of esophageal cancer. Future developments toward the clinical applications of EGFR to cancer treatment are also envisaged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EGFR may function as an ideal therapeutic target for esophageal cancer. Further investigation of epidermal growth-factor-receptor-mediated pathways will push insight into the novel strategies of target therapy for esophageal cancer. More clinical trials should be performed to promote the success of therapeutic-clinical use of EGFR and its targets in esophageal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Fourth Military Medical University, Xijing Hospital, Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology , Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi Province , China +86 29 84773974 ; +86 29 82539041 ; hongliu180@126.com.
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Lubi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brain
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors