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Integration of EGFR inhibitors with radiochemotherapy

Nature Reviews Cancer volume 6, pages 876–885 (2006)Cite this article

An Erratum to this article was published on 26 October 2006

Abstract

Laboratory studies that led to the development of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors indicated that such inhibitors would be effective when given to patients with tumours that are driven by activated EGFR. However, initial clinical studies have shown modest responses to EGFR inhibitors when used alone, and it has not yet been possible to clearly identify which tumours will respond to this therapy. As a result, EGFR inhibitors are now used in combination with radiation therapy, chemotherapy and, more recently, with concurrent radiochemotherapy. In general, these clinical trials have been designed without much preclinical data. What do we need to know to make these combinations successful in the clinic?

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Figure 1: A schematic view of EGFR showing the crucial features required for kinase activity and key mutations identified in patients with non-small-cell lung carcinoma.
Figure 2: Potential mechanisms of synergy between EGFR inhibitors and radiation.
Figure 3: The effect of radiation and chemotherapy on EGFR signalling.
Figure 4: Proposed model for the integration of EGFR inhibitors with radiochemotherapy.

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Acknowledgements

The work described in this paper was supported by US National Cancer Institute grants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48109, Michigan, USA

    Mukesh K. Nyati, Meredith A. Morgan, Felix Y. Feng & Theodore S. Lawrence

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  1. Mukesh K. Nyati
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Correspondence to Theodore S. Lawrence.

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DATABASES

National Cancer Institute

anal cancer

breast cancer

CML

head and neck cancer

lung cancer

stomach cancer

rectal cancer

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Nyati, M., Morgan, M., Feng, F. et al. Integration of EGFR inhibitors with radiochemotherapy. Nat Rev Cancer 6, 876–885 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrc1953

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