title: Epidermal growth factor receptor and metastatic colorectal cancer: insights into target therapies.
abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) has high incidence and mortality worldwide. In 2012, CRC was the second most prevalent cancer among males (9%) and the third among females (8%). In recent decades, standard chemotherapies protocols combining 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan and oxaliplatin were important for improve survival in this set of patients. Further, biological drugs throughout epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathways showed interesting results in metastatic disease (mCRC) control when in association to standard chemotherapy regimens. Cetuximab and panitumumab are two cornerstones for mCRC treatment and are both approved in Europe and United States based on previous results phase III trials. This paper will briefly summarize those anti-EGFR therapies framework in mCRC and discusses some issues in this regard.
authors.affiliation: Ramon Andrade de Mello, António Araújo, Department of Medical Oncology, Portuguese Oncology Institute, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ramon Andrade
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: de Mello
authors.forename: Andrea Marin
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: António
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Araújo
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000556:secondary; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D057285:Precision Medicine; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors
keywords: Cetuximab; Chemotherapy; Colorectal cancer; Epidermal growth factor receptor; KRAS mutation; Panitumumab