What are EGFR Inhibitors?
Treatments for cancer have traditionally focused on chemotherapy agents that damage DNA within a cell at various stages of cell development, resulting in cell death. Chemotherapy agents are associated with toxic side effects, often limiting their use and causing patients great discomfort. Over the past five years, we have seen the emergence of targeted therapies on to the oncology scene. These new cancer treatments can inhibit interactions occurring on the cell surface, or inside of, cancer cells, resulting in the blockage of essential biologic pathways and ultimately cell death. They can focus on different targets, such as blocking receptors on the cell surface or interfering with integral intracellular pathways. Some drugs are multi-targeted, meaning they can block multiple targets to work against cancer cell proliferation. A major class of targeted agents is the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) inhibitors. These drugs target the EGF receptor, also known as the HER-1 receptor.
