Role of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Breast Cancer
EGFR‑targeted therapies have shown limited clinical benefit in breast cancer, particularly in triple‑negative and inflammatory subtypes, because of insufficient predictive biomarkers and inherent resistance mechanisms.
Decades of research in molecular oncology have brought about promising new therapies that are designed to target specific molecules that promote tumor growth and survival. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is one of the first identified important targets of these novel antitumor agents. Approximately half of cases of triple‑negative breast cancer (TNBC) and inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) overexpress EGFR. Thus, EGFR inhibitors for treatment of breast cancer have been evaluated in several studies. However, results so far have been disappointing. One of the reasons for these unexpected results is the lack of biomarkers for predicting which patients are most likely to respond to EGFR inhibitors. Recent studies have shown that EGFR and its downstream pathway regulate epithelial‑mesenchymal transition, migration, and tumor invasion and that high EGFR expression is an independent predictor of poor prognosis in IBC. Further, recent studies have shown that targeting EGFR enhances the chemosensitivity of TNBC cells by rewiring apoptotic signaling networks in TNBC. These studies indicate that EGFR‑targeted therapy might have a promising role in TNBC and IBC. Further studies of the role of EGFR in TNBC and IBC are needed to better understand the best way to use EGFR‑targeted therapy—for example, as a chemosensitizer or to prevent metastases—to treat these aggressive diseases.
EGFR is frequently overexpressed in aggressive breast cancer subtypes such as TNBC and IBC, correlating with poor prognosis. While EGFR‑directed drugs exist, their clinical effectiveness has been limited due to lack of reliable predictive biomarkers and tumor resistance, underscoring the need for improved patient selection and novel combination strategies.
Bizonyítékszint: Korai humán adat. Kis vagy feltáró emberi adat.
Kapcsolódó jelek
- 20‑Year Risks of Breast‑Cancer Recurrence after Stopping Endocrine Therapy at 5 Years
- Breast Cancer: The good, the bad, and an important call to effective risk reduction strategies
- Clinical Trials in Cancer - Transforming Clinical Research in the United States - NCBI Bookshelf
- Decoding Clinical Trials in Metastatic Breast Cancer: Practical Insights for Optimal Therapy Sequencing
- The SURVIVE study (NCT05658172): Bringing breast cancer aftercare to the 21st century: Study protocol of a Phase III clinical trial comparing liquid biopsy guided vs. Standard of care surveillance for intermediate to high-risk breast cancer survivors - PMC