TY - JOUR
T1 - Combination of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors and antiangiogenic drugs
T2 - A model for treatment
AU - Martinelli, Erika
AU - Troiani, Teresa
AU - Morgillo, Floriana
AU - Piccirillo, Maria Carmela
AU - Monaco, Katia
AU - Morelli, Maria Pia
AU - Cascone, Tina
AU - Ciardiello, Fortunato
PY - 2006/7
Y1 - 2006/7
N2 - The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) autocrine pathway plays a crucial role in human cancer since it contributes to relevant processes in tumor development and progression, including cell proliferation, regulation of apoptotic cell death, angiogenesis and metastatic spread. EGFR-blocking monoclonal antibodies and small-molecule EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been developed as anticancer drugs. Although anti-EGFR agents are active in a subset of cancer patients, constitutive resistance in a large number of patients and the development of acquired resistance in initially responding patients are a relevant clinical issue. A major problem is that intrinsic and/or acquired resistance can occur, and it could be due to the activation of alternative cancer cell growth controlling pathways. One mechanism linked to acquired resistance to EGFR-inhibitor treatment, in particular, is the activation of uncontrolled, tumor-induced angiogenesis through an increase in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion by cancer cells. Significant and sustained antitumor activity in this context can be obtained by combining selective anti-EGFR drugs with antiangiogenic agents. In this review, we focus on the preclinical and clinical evidence showing that an approach combining anti-EGFR and antiangiogenic drugs is feasible and could represent a paradigm for a rational combined multi-targeted treatment of cancer.
AB - The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) autocrine pathway plays a crucial role in human cancer since it contributes to relevant processes in tumor development and progression, including cell proliferation, regulation of apoptotic cell death, angiogenesis and metastatic spread. EGFR-blocking monoclonal antibodies and small-molecule EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been developed as anticancer drugs. Although anti-EGFR agents are active in a subset of cancer patients, constitutive resistance in a large number of patients and the development of acquired resistance in initially responding patients are a relevant clinical issue. A major problem is that intrinsic and/or acquired resistance can occur, and it could be due to the activation of alternative cancer cell growth controlling pathways. One mechanism linked to acquired resistance to EGFR-inhibitor treatment, in particular, is the activation of uncontrolled, tumor-induced angiogenesis through an increase in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion by cancer cells. Significant and sustained antitumor activity in this context can be obtained by combining selective anti-EGFR drugs with antiangiogenic agents. In this review, we focus on the preclinical and clinical evidence showing that an approach combining anti-EGFR and antiangiogenic drugs is feasible and could represent a paradigm for a rational combined multi-targeted treatment of cancer.
KW - Bevacizumab
KW - Cetuximab
KW - Epidermal growth factor receptor
KW - Erlotinib
KW - Molecular targeted therapy
KW - Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor
KW - ZD6474
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33749867319&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33749867319&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11523-006-0022-5
DO - 10.1007/s11523-006-0022-5
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:33749867319
SN - 1776-2596
VL - 1
SP - 123
EP - 129
JO - Targeted oncology
JF - Targeted oncology
IS - 3
ER -