Anti-EGF receptor therapy

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signalling pathway contributes to a number of processes important to tumour progression, including cell pr oliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis and metastatic spread. EGFR signalling is thought to be an important cell survival mechanism in hormone-resistant prostate cancer. ZD1839 ('Iressa') is an orally active, selective EGFR-tyr osine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) which blocks signal transduction pathways implicated in promoting cancer growth. In preclinical studies, ZD1839 alon e, and in combination with cytotoxic agents, produced reversible growth inh ibition and growth delay in a wide range of tumour cell lines and human tum our xenografts. Preliminary results from phase I trials in patients with ad vanced disease suggest that ZD1839 has an acceptable tolerability profile a nd promising clinical efficacy in patients with a variety of tumour types, including hormone-resistant prostate cancer, where new treatment strategies are needed.