Current situation of Panitumumab, Matuzumab, Nimotuzumab and Zalutumumab

Abstract

EGFR overexpression usually correlates with a more advanced disease stage, a poorer prognosis and a worse chemotherapy response. EGFR expression increase has been observed in many tumours. For all the aforementioned reasons, EGFR inhibition can be considered an attractive approach in cancer treatment. One strategy has been receptor inhibition of extracellular domain using monoclonal antibodies. Cetuximab is the most developped one and there is plenty information on the literature about its current status. In this review we focus on other EGFR monoclonal antibodies under clinical development. The more developed one is Panitumumab. Its clinical development is taking place very quickly and it has mainly been studied in colorectal cancer showing pomising results. There are also other interesting drugs such as Matuzumab, Nimotuzumab and Zalutumumab. © 2008 Taylor & Francis.