EGFR inhibition in NSCLC: New findings…. and opened questions?
The targeted inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has represented a milestone in the treatment of lung cancer. Several studies convincingly and consistently demonstrated a significant superiority of EGFR-TKIs over standard platinum-chemotherapy in EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients, leading to the sequential approval of gefitinib, erlotinib and afatinib as new standard first-line clinical treatment. To date we are witnessing a second revolution in the management of EGFR-positive NSCLC thanks to the development of new treatment strategies aiming to overcome acquired resistance to TKIs and ultimately improve patients' outcomes. In this review we summarize the most important recent findings regarding EGFR-inhibition in NSCLC, highlighting the current unsolved questions on the selection of the best TKI in first-line, which therapy can be combined with upfront EGFR-TKIs, how to overcome acquired resistance, and which are the clinical applications of liquid biopsy.
Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Francesco
F
Passiglia
Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Angela
A
Listì
Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Marta
M
Castiglia
Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Alessandro
A
Perez
Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Sergio
S
Rizzo
Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Viviana
V
Bazan
Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, Section of Medical Oncology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: antonio.russo@usa.net.
Antonio
A
Russo
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D009154:Mutation; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors
EGFR; Liquid biopsy; Resistance; TKIs; Targeted therapy