Colorectal cancer in review: the role of the EGFR pathway

Importance of the field:The overexpression of EGFR has been documented in 30 – 90% of cases of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). An increased understanding of the EGFR pathway in CRC has paved the way for the development of other targeted agents to augment therapeutic efficacy as well as for efforts to circumvent tumor resistance to therapy.Areas covered in this review:Our aim is to discuss the recent progress in the role of the EGFR pathway, the status of anti-EGFR therapeutic agents currently in use and the rationale for the development of novel agents that work along the pathway for the treatment of CRC.What the reader will gain:The readers will learn about the development and evolution of mAbs directed against EGFR as well as tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the management of CRC patients. In the same vein, determination of optimal dosing and better methods of defining those subsets of patients most likely to benefit will be discussed.Take home message:All these data must encourage clinicians and basic researches to continue in their efforts to untangle the network behind EGFR and try to focus all that effort towards improving patient's quality of life as well as survival.