Research progress of nimotuzumab in treatment of esophageal carcinoma / 肿瘤研究与临床

ABSTRACT

Esophageal cancer is a cause of cancer mortality and accounts for the sixth most common cause of cancer-related death. The focus of recent study has shifted towards testing novel agents that target specific molecular abnormalities known to occur in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The preclinical studies involving various cancer models, including ESCC, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) over-expression, are linked to epithelial cell proliferation, differentiation and migration, and have an inverse relationship to tumor chemotherapy curability. Nimotuzumab is a humanized anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody that binds to the extracellular domain of the EGFR and inhibits EGF binding. In many phase Ⅱ trials, nimotuzumab showed marked antiproliferative, proapoptotic and antiangiogenic effects in tumors that overexpress EGFR. Some phaseⅢtrials are ongoing.