EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) gene amplification generally results in increased protein expression in breast carcinomas. About 6% of breast carcinomas show moderate to low-level EGFR amplification associated with genuine EGFR protein overexpression. Studies in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have shown that EGFR expression is associated with reduced survival, frequent lymph node metastasis, and poor chemosensitivity.
EGFR is a member of the ErbB family of receptors, a subfamily of four closely related receptor tyrosine kinases which all play an important role in controlling normal cell growth, apoptosis, and other cellular functions. Mutations of EGFRs can lead to NSCLC, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, and some other cancers.
New drugs such as gefitinib and erlotinib directly target the EGFR. EGFR-positive patients have shown a 60% response rate, which exceeds the response rate for conventional chemotherapy.
Clinical Applications
- Solid Tumors (Solid Tumors)