Targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor in high-grade astrocytomas.

摘要: High-grade astrocytomas, including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and anaplastic astrocytoma (AA), are the most common aggressive primary malignant brain tumors in adults. Despite improvements survival with addition of temozolomide to radiation adjuvant setting, prognosis patients affected by these remains relatively poor. One approach improve outcomes is target epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). EGFR-targeted therapy a rational since EGFR overexpression mutant EGFRvIII expression occur approximately 50% GBM. Unfortunately, monotherapy anti-EGFR agents gliomas has not provided dramatic results sometimes seen other targeted therapies, such as imatinib chronic myelogenous leukemia. Anti-EGFR currently being studied include tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), monoclonal antibodies (MAb), vaccines. Of all agents, inhibitors—which erlotinib gefitinib—have been extensively tested clinical trials. Retrospective analyses have highlighted co-expression wild-type PTEN (phosphatase tensin homologue deleted chromosome 10) significant predictor TKI response As signaling pathway exceptionally complex, newer approaches targeting multiple points developed treatment efficacy.