Worldwide, approximately 1.3 billion individuals are current smokers, and smoking is the second major cause of death. Currently, lung cancer is the most common type of cancer in Europe, and the third in the U. S. ⋯ The central role of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) in lung carcinogenesis is well recognized. Genetic polymorphisms are variants in individual genomes that may be responsible for different functional molecular roles and contribute to variability in drug pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes. Herein, we review the literature on EGF and EGFR functions and activities, particularly the current role of their functional polymorphisms as related to NSCLC.
António Araújo, Ricardo Ribeiro, Isabel Azevedo, Ana Coelho, Marta Soares, Berta Sousa, Daniela Pinto, Carlos Lopes, Rui Medeiros, and Giorgio V Scagliotti.
Department of Medical Oncology, Portuguese Institute of Oncology, Porto Centre, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4200 Porto, Portugal. amfaraujo@netcabo.pt
Oncologist. 2007 Feb 1; 12 (2): 201-10.
AbstractWorldwide, approximately 1.3 billion individuals are current smokers, and smoking is the second major cause of death. Currently, lung cancer is the most common type of cancer in Europe, and the third in the U.S. Until now, cytotoxic chemotherapy has had a limited impact on survival in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The central role of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) in lung carcinogenesis is well recognized. Genetic polymorphisms are variants in individual genomes that may be responsible for different functional molecular roles and contribute to variability in drug pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes. Herein, we review the literature on EGF and EGFR functions and activities, particularly the current role of their functional polymorphisms as related to NSCLC.