Concomitant Analysis of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Family in Esophageal Cancer: Overexpression of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor mRNA but Not of c-erbB-2 and c-erbB-3

1999 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 1010-1018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helmut Friess ◽  
Akira Fukuda ◽  
Wen-Hao Tang ◽  
Adrian Eichenberger ◽  
Neva Furlan ◽  
...  
2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 2445-2459 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Baselga ◽  
Carlos L. Arteaga

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a receptor tyrosine kinase of the ErbB receptor family that is abnormally activated in many epithelial tumors. The aberrant activation of the EGFR leads to enhanced proliferation and other tumor-promoting activities, which provide a strong rationale to target this receptor family. There are two classes of anti-EGFR agents: monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed at the extracellular domain of the receptor and small molecule, adenosine triphosphate–competitive inhibitors of the receptor's tyrosine kinase. Anti-EGFR MAbs have shown antitumor activity in advanced colorectal carcinoma, squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck, non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and renal cell carcinomas. The tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have a partially different activity profile. They are active against NSCLC, and a specific EGFR inhibitor has shown improvement in survival. Recently, mutations and amplifications of the EGFR gene have been identified in NSCLC and predict for enhanced sensitivity to anti-EGFR TKIs. In addition to specific anti-EGFR TKIs, there are broader acting inhibitors such as dual EGFR HER-2 inhibitors and combined anti-pan-ErbB and antivascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitors. Current research efforts are directed at selecting the optimal dose and schedule and identifying predictive factors of response and resistance beyond EGFR gene mutations and/or amplifications. Finally, there is a need for improved strategies to integrate anti-EGFR agents with conventional therapies and to explore combinations with other molecular targeted approaches including other antireceptor therapies, receptor-downstream signaling transduction inhibitors, and targeted approaches interfering with other essential drivers of cancer, such as angiogenesis.


1993 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 1746-1750 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. D. Plowman ◽  
J. M. Culouscou ◽  
G. S. Whitney ◽  
J. M. Green ◽  
G. W. Carlton ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan-Ming Yang ◽  
Pan Hong ◽  
Wen Wen Xu ◽  
Qing-Yu He ◽  
Bin Li

Abstract Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most lethal cancers in the world, and its morbidity and mortality rates rank among the top ten in China. Currently, surgical resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the primary clinical treatments for esophageal cancer. However, outcomes are still unsatisfactory due to the limited efficacy and severe adverse effects of conventional treatments. As a new type of approach, targeted therapies have been confirmed to play an important role in the treatment of esophageal cancer; these include cetuximab and bevacizumab, which target epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), respectively. In addition, other drugs targeting surface antigens and signaling pathways or acting on immune checkpoints have been continuously developed. For example, trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a first-line treatment of HER-2-positive cancer. Moreover, the PD-L1 inhibitor pembrolizumab has been approved as a highly efficient drug for patients with PD-L1-positive or advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). These novel drugs can be used alone or in combination with other treatment strategies to further improve the treatment efficacy and prognosis of cancer patients. Nevertheless, adverse events, optimal dosages and effective combinations still need further investigation. In this review, we expound an outline of the latest advances in targeted therapies of esophageal cancer and the mechanisms of relevant drugs, discuss their efficacy and safety, and provide a clinical rationale for precision medicine in esophageal cancer.


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