Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors in cancer treatment: advances, challenges and opportunities.

摘要: Aberrant expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) system has been reported in a wide range epithelial cancers. In some studies, this also associated with poor prognosis and resistance to conventional forms therapies. These discoveries have led strategic development several kinds EGFR inhibitors, five which gained US Food Drug Administration approval for treatment patients non-small-cell lung cancer (gefitinib erlotinib), metastatic colorectal (cetuximab panitumumab), head neck (cetuximab), pancreatic (erlotinib) breast (lapatinib) cancer. Despite these advances recent studies on predictive value activating mutation KRAS mutations response colon patients, there is currently no reliable marker therapy anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies cetuximab panitumumab or small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors gefitinib erlotinib. particular, clear association between EGFR, determined by Administration-approved PharmDX kit, inhibitors. Here, we discuss controversial data explanatory factors as well future establishment more markers Such investigations should lead selection specific subpopulation who benefit from but equally spare those will receive detrimental effect such biological agents.