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Title: Stepwise Progress in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor/Radiation Studies for Head and Neck Cancer

Abstract

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of four new epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors for cancer therapy (cetuximab, panitumumab, gefitinib, and erlotinib) over the last 3 years is a remarkable milestone in oncology. Indeed, molecular inhibition of EGFR signaling represents one of the most promising current arenas for the development of molecular-targeted cancer therapies. Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors from both the monoclonal antibody and tyrosine kinase inhibitor class have demonstrated clinical activity in the treatment of a broad spectrum of common human malignancies. For the discipline of radiation oncology, the 2006 report of a phase III trial demonstrating a survival advantage for advanced head and neck cancer patients with the addition of weekly cetuximab during a 7-week course of radiation is particularly gratifying. Indeed, this is the first phase III trial to confirm a survival advantage with the addition of a molecular-targeted agent to radiation. Furthermore, this result seems to have been achieved with only a modest increment in overall treatment toxicity and with very high compliance to the prescribed treatment regimen. Nevertheless, much remains to be learned regarding the rational integration of EGFR inhibitors into cancer treatment regimens, as well as methods to optimize the selectionmore » of patients most likely to benefit from EGFR inhibitor strategies.« less

Authors:
 [1]
  1. University of Wisconsin Medical School and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Madison, WI (United States), E-mail: harari@humonc.wisc.edu
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
21036273
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 69; Journal Issue: 2; Conference: Inaugural multidisciplinary head and neck cancer symposium, Rancho Mirage, CA (United States), 18-20 Jan 2007; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2007.04.087; PII: S0360-3016(07)00995-9; Copyright (c) 2007 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0360-3016
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE; CARCINOMAS; GROWTH FACTORS; HEAD; INHIBITION; MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES; NECK; PATIENTS; RECEPTORS; SPECTRA; THERAPY; TOXICITY; TYROSINE

Citation Formats

Harari, Paul M. Stepwise Progress in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor/Radiation Studies for Head and Neck Cancer. United States: N. p., 2007. Web. doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2007.04.087.
Harari, Paul M. Stepwise Progress in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor/Radiation Studies for Head and Neck Cancer. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2007.04.087
Harari, Paul M. 2007. "Stepwise Progress in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor/Radiation Studies for Head and Neck Cancer". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2007.04.087.
@article{osti_21036273,
title = {Stepwise Progress in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor/Radiation Studies for Head and Neck Cancer},
author = {Harari, Paul M.},
abstractNote = {The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of four new epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors for cancer therapy (cetuximab, panitumumab, gefitinib, and erlotinib) over the last 3 years is a remarkable milestone in oncology. Indeed, molecular inhibition of EGFR signaling represents one of the most promising current arenas for the development of molecular-targeted cancer therapies. Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors from both the monoclonal antibody and tyrosine kinase inhibitor class have demonstrated clinical activity in the treatment of a broad spectrum of common human malignancies. For the discipline of radiation oncology, the 2006 report of a phase III trial demonstrating a survival advantage for advanced head and neck cancer patients with the addition of weekly cetuximab during a 7-week course of radiation is particularly gratifying. Indeed, this is the first phase III trial to confirm a survival advantage with the addition of a molecular-targeted agent to radiation. Furthermore, this result seems to have been achieved with only a modest increment in overall treatment toxicity and with very high compliance to the prescribed treatment regimen. Nevertheless, much remains to be learned regarding the rational integration of EGFR inhibitors into cancer treatment regimens, as well as methods to optimize the selection of patients most likely to benefit from EGFR inhibitor strategies.},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijrobp.2007.04.087},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/21036273}, journal = {International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics},
issn = {0360-3016},
number = 2,
volume = 69,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2007},
month = {Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2007}
}