Epidermal growth factor receptor as a therapeutic target in lung cancer

Almost two decades of research to determine how cancer cells differ from noncancerous cells at the molecular level have been richly rewarding. Several molecular growth factors and receptors have been discovered that play a role in tumor development and are differentially expressed in tumor cells. In this regard, the structure and function of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have been characterized. Efforts to develop effective anticancer therapy have targeted this receptor because it is critical to tumor cell proliferation, survival, and invasiveness. Overexpression of EGFR occurs in several epithelial cell tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Small-molecular-weight EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors and EGFR monoclonal antibodies are among the agents that have demonstrated activity against NSCLC. These compounds, which are designed to selectively target tumor cells, represent a new and novel treatment approach that is being evaluated in NSCLC clinical trials.