The role of epidermal growth factor receptor in prognosis and treatment of gastric cancer

Abstract

Despite tremendous efforts to reduce deaths due to gastric cancer, it represents the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. EGF receptor (EGFR) plays important roles in gastric carcinogenesis by regulation of cell cycle, angiogenesis and apoptosis. This review evaluates the functions, mechanisms and clinical uses of EGFR in gastric cancer. Although EGFR targeted single therapy shows limited effect, the combination of EGFR targeted agents with traditional chemotherapy regimens may bring about important progress in cancer therapy. More clinical trials should be performed to clarify both the prognostic and therapeutic value of EGFR in gastric cancer.

Keywords::

• epidermal growth factor receptor
• gastric cancer
• prognosis
• target therapy

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This paper was supported in part by grants from the National Natural Scientific Foundation of China (81100714, 81171923), the Foundation of Shaanxi Province Science and Technology research (2012KJXX-20), and the Top Ph.D. Foundation of China (201075). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Key issues

• Despite tremendous efforts have promoted therapeutic approaches, the clinical outcomes remain poor in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

• High expression of EGF receptor (EGFR) may predict poor survival of gastric cancer patients. The prognostic value of EGFR remains controversial.

• Inhibition of EGFR may suppress cell growth, angiogenesis and metastasis of gastric cancer cells.

• EGFR targeted single therapy shows limited effect for gastric cancer patients.

• Combination treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor targeted agents and other cytotoxic agents may increase the therapeutic response rate of gastric cancer patients.