Title:Role of EGFR Monoclonal Antibodies in the Management of Non–small Cell Lung Cancer
Volume: 15
Issue: 9
Author(s): Masayuki Takeda and Kazuhiko Nakagawa
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Antibody, cetuximab, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), necitumumab, non–small cell lung cancer,
nimotuzumab, panitumumab.
Abstract: Dysregulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling due to receptor
overexpression or activating mutation is associated with cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, and
survival. EGFR has become an important therapeutic target for non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC),
and several EGFR-targeted agents, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and monoclonal
antibodies (mAbs), have been developed. The EGFR-TKIs gefitinib, erlotinib, and afatinib have been
approved for the treatment of advanced NSCLC, and sensitivity to these drugs has been shown to be
associated with the presence of EGFR mutations. Various mAbs to EGFR have also been evaluated in
preclinical and clinical studies. In particular, phase III trials have shown a clinically significant survival benefit for
addition of the anti-EGFR mAbs cetuximab or necitumumab to a platinum doublet in chemotherapy-naïve patients with
advanced NSCLC. We here summarize the results of completed and ongoing clinical trials of EGFR-targeted mAbs for
the treatment of NSCLC.
