Comprehensive profiling of EGFR/HER receptors for personalized treatment of gynecologic cancers.

ABSTRACT

The primary gynecologic cancers include cancers of the endometrium, ovary, and cervix. Worldwide, cervical cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer, whereas endometrial cancer is the most common in the US. Ovarian cancer is the fifth most deadly cancer in women, with 5-year survival rates for advanced disease at only 27 %. As such, there is an urgent need for reliable screening tools and novel targeted therapeutic regimens for these malignancies. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/human EGFR (HER) family of receptors has been associated with the development and progression of many solid tumors. Despite clear roles for these receptors in other cancers, the expression of HER family members in gynecologic cancers and their relationship with disease stage, grade, and response to treatment remain controversial. In this review, we describe the existing evidence for the use of HER family members as diagnostic and prognostic indicators as well as their potential as therapeutic targets in gynecologic cancers.