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Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2004; 25: 17-27
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-829641
Copyright © 2004 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitors in Lung Cancer Therapy

Janessa J. Laskin1 , Alan B. Sandler2
  • 1Division of Medical Oncology, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  • 2Department of Medical Oncology, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, Tennessee
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
22 June 2004 (online)

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Over the past decade our evolving knowledge and understanding of cancer biology has allowed rapid progression in the development of targeted cancer therapy. Improving lung cancer mortality has remained a difficult task; however, therapeutic agents directed against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have provided physicians with a valuable new tool to integrate into multimodality therapy. EGFR inhibitors have been shown to elicit meaningful antitumor effects and quality-of-life benefits with acceptable toxicity. The rationale, utility, toxicity profile, and therapeutic strategy of EGFR-targeted therapy will be reviewed.

KEYWORDS

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) - non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) - tyrosine kinase inhibitors - ZD1839 - OSI-774 - IMC-C225

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Janessa LaskinM.D. 

Division of Medical Oncology, BC Cancer Agency, 600 W. 10th Ave., Vancouver

BC, V5Z-4E6, Canada

Email: jlaskin@bccancer.bc.ca