Does erlotinib restore chemosensitivity to chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer? A case series

Erlotinib (Tarceva) in combination with gemcitabine is indicated for first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic pancreatic cancer. In preclinical models, exposure of pancreatic cancer cell lines to an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inh...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Anticancer research 2011-03, Vol.31 (3), p.1039-1042
Main Author: Saif, M Wasif
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
Erlotinib Hydrochloride
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pancreatic Neoplasms - drug therapy
Quinazolines - therapeutic use
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Summary:Erlotinib (Tarceva) in combination with gemcitabine is indicated for first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic pancreatic cancer. In preclinical models, exposure of pancreatic cancer cell lines to an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor plus gemcitabine suggested enhanced cytotoxicity of gemcitabine and induced apoptosis in tumor cells. Erlotinib inhibited gemcitabine-induced phosphorylation of EGFR, which may promote cytotoxicity from gemcitabine. The effectiveness of the combination of irinotecan and cetuximab in patients with irinotecan-refractory colon cancer tumors suggests that cetuximab may circumvent irinotecan resistance. This report describes the author's experience with the use of erlotinib in patients with pancreatic cancer and discusses the possible role of erlotinib in restoring chemosensitivity in pancreatic cancer.
ISSN:1791-7530