Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2021 Aug;54(4):743-749.
doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2021.04.005. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Targeted Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer

Sumita Trivedi  1 , Robert L Ferris  2
Affiliations
Review

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Targeted Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer

Sumita Trivedi et al. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2021 Aug.

Abstract

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is an important therapeutic target in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). EGFR-targeted agents including monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors have shown mixed results in clinical trials. To date, only cetuximab, an anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody, is approved for use in local/regional advanced and recurrent or metastatic HNSCC. This article reviews the mechanism of action of cetuximab and its antitumor immune effects and the data to support its use in HNSCC. It additionally provides an overview of other EGFR monoclonal antibodies and small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors that have been studied.

Keywords: Cetuximab; Epidermal growth factor receptor; Monoclonal antibody; Tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure R.L. Ferris: Aduro Biotech, Inc: Consulting. Astra-Zeneca/MedImmune: Clinical Trial, Research Funding. Bristol-Myers Squibb: Advisory Board, Clinical Trial, Research Funding. EMD Serono: Advisory Board. MacroGenics, Inc: Advisory Board. Merck: Advisory Board, Clinical Trial. Novasenta: Consulting, Stock, Research Funding. Numab Therapeutics AG: Advisory Board. Pfizer: Advisory Board. Sanofi: Consultant. Tesaro: Research Funding. Zymeworks, Inc: Consultant.

MeSH terms