Abstract
Small molecule epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have shown promising activity in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Gefitinib has been the first of these drugs to be licensed for third-line treatment of advanced NSCLC patients. More recently, erlotinib has been shown to be more effective than placebo in increasing overall survival (OAS) and has been approved for NSCLC patients after failure of chemotherapy. However, a large body of clinical and experimental evidence suggests that the benefit from these drugs is limited to a subgroup of patients. The availability of clinical or molecular criteria for predicting sensitivity to EGFR-TKIs is the most relevant issue for their correct use and for planning future research. Determination of EGFR expression is not sufficient to predict sensitivity to EGFR-TKIs. However, several clinical features (female gender, adenocarcinoma/bronchioloalveolar histotype, never-smoking status, Oriental Asian origin) are associated with major clinical responses. The identification of somatic mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the EGFR gene represents the most important molecular marker of sensitivity to EGFR-TKIs. These "activating" mutations can be found in a high proportion of gefitinibor erlotinib-responding patients. However, clinical effectiveness might not be limited to patients carrying EGFR mutations, in which the objective response is probably the detectable effect of apoptosis induction in cancer cells. In fact, clinical efficacy with gefitinib or erlotinib is also observed in another subgroup of patients, in which a tumor growth delay, determined by a block in cancer cell proliferation, could induce a prolonged and clinically relevant disease stabilization.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 355-363 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Journal of Cellular Physiology |
| Volume | 205 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2005 |
Fingerprint
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Physiology
Cite this
Trying to compose the puzzle with all the pieces : Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer. / Di Maio, Massimo; Gridelli, Cesare; Normanno, Nicola; Perrone, Francesco; Ciardiello, Fortunato.
In: Journal of Cellular Physiology, Vol. 205, No. 3, 12.2005, p. 355-363.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Trying to compose the puzzle with all the pieces
T2 - Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer
AU - Di Maio, Massimo
AU - Gridelli, Cesare
AU - Normanno, Nicola
AU - Perrone, Francesco
AU - Ciardiello, Fortunato
PY - 2005/12
Y1 - 2005/12
N2 - Small molecule epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have shown promising activity in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Gefitinib has been the first of these drugs to be licensed for third-line treatment of advanced NSCLC patients. More recently, erlotinib has been shown to be more effective than placebo in increasing overall survival (OAS) and has been approved for NSCLC patients after failure of chemotherapy. However, a large body of clinical and experimental evidence suggests that the benefit from these drugs is limited to a subgroup of patients. The availability of clinical or molecular criteria for predicting sensitivity to EGFR-TKIs is the most relevant issue for their correct use and for planning future research. Determination of EGFR expression is not sufficient to predict sensitivity to EGFR-TKIs. However, several clinical features (female gender, adenocarcinoma/bronchioloalveolar histotype, never-smoking status, Oriental Asian origin) are associated with major clinical responses. The identification of somatic mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the EGFR gene represents the most important molecular marker of sensitivity to EGFR-TKIs. These "activating" mutations can be found in a high proportion of gefitinibor erlotinib-responding patients. However, clinical effectiveness might not be limited to patients carrying EGFR mutations, in which the objective response is probably the detectable effect of apoptosis induction in cancer cells. In fact, clinical efficacy with gefitinib or erlotinib is also observed in another subgroup of patients, in which a tumor growth delay, determined by a block in cancer cell proliferation, could induce a prolonged and clinically relevant disease stabilization.
AB - Small molecule epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have shown promising activity in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Gefitinib has been the first of these drugs to be licensed for third-line treatment of advanced NSCLC patients. More recently, erlotinib has been shown to be more effective than placebo in increasing overall survival (OAS) and has been approved for NSCLC patients after failure of chemotherapy. However, a large body of clinical and experimental evidence suggests that the benefit from these drugs is limited to a subgroup of patients. The availability of clinical or molecular criteria for predicting sensitivity to EGFR-TKIs is the most relevant issue for their correct use and for planning future research. Determination of EGFR expression is not sufficient to predict sensitivity to EGFR-TKIs. However, several clinical features (female gender, adenocarcinoma/bronchioloalveolar histotype, never-smoking status, Oriental Asian origin) are associated with major clinical responses. The identification of somatic mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the EGFR gene represents the most important molecular marker of sensitivity to EGFR-TKIs. These "activating" mutations can be found in a high proportion of gefitinibor erlotinib-responding patients. However, clinical effectiveness might not be limited to patients carrying EGFR mutations, in which the objective response is probably the detectable effect of apoptosis induction in cancer cells. In fact, clinical efficacy with gefitinib or erlotinib is also observed in another subgroup of patients, in which a tumor growth delay, determined by a block in cancer cell proliferation, could induce a prolonged and clinically relevant disease stabilization.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=27744534956&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=27744534956&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/jcp.20402
DO - 10.1002/jcp.20402
M3 - Article
C2 - 15895392
AN - SCOPUS:27744534956
VL - 205
SP - 355
EP - 363
JO - Journal of cellular and comparative physiology
JF - Journal of cellular and comparative physiology
SN - 0021-9541
IS - 3
ER -