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The epidermal growth factor receptors as biological targets in penile cancer
- Source :
- Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy; April 2015, Vol. 15 Issue: 4 p473-476, 4p
- Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- Penile cancer is a rare disease, with an incidence that is higher in less developed countries and is in the range of 1 – 10 per 100000 men worldwide. Early diagnosis is essential for cure, as 5 year cancer-specific survival is 90 – 100 % in patients with intraepithelial neoplasms and in those with low-grade superficial tumors without lymphovascular invasion, but it drops to 30% in men with multiple mobile or bilateral inguinal lymph nodes. The EGFR family plays a major role in penile cancer biology, with distinct receptors being involved in HPV-positive and -negative tumors. A number of anti-EGFR agents were used in penile cancer patients outside the context of a clinical trial, mainly as a salvage treatment after failure of first-line chemotherapy. A total of 28 patients received anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies, with 50% of them showing a response to treatment, and a median PFS of ∼ 3 months. The rarity of the disease poses great challenge in terms of education and awareness of the general population, planning of preventive measures on a large scale, as well as conduction of prospective trials and approval of high-cost biological therapy.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14712598 and 17447682
- Volume :
- 15
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Supplemental Index
- Journal :
- Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy
- Publication Type :
- Periodical
- Accession number :
- ejs35192853
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1517/14712598.2015.993377