ErbB Targeted Therapy in Endometrial Cancer - Special Issue

The potential role of ErbB receptors (especially EGFR and ErbB-2) as targets for cancer therapy has been investigated for over 30 years. Anti-ErbB monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) bind to the extracellular domain of EGFR or ErbB-2 and prevent ligand binding and receptor activation. They are an attractive and appropriate treatment option in patients with advanced, recurrent or metastatic endometrial cancer and with EGFR and ErbB-2 overexpression. ErbB-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) block the binding of ATP to the intracellular domain of EGFR and/or ErbB-2 and prevent tyrosine kinase activity and subsequent intracellular signaling. They are another attractive and appropriate treatment option in patients with advanced, recurrent or metastatic endometrial cancer and with EGFR and ErbB-2 overexpression. The overall response rate to ErbB targeted therapies is modest, unless they are associated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Moreover, molecular targeted therapies have still shown modest effect in unselected endometrial cancer patients. Perhaps ErbB-targeted therapies may be used as adjuvant treatment in type II endometrial cancer patients with EGFR and ErbB-2 overexpression.