[Overview of epidermal growth factor inhibitors (with the exclusion of ZD1839 and C225)]. / Panorama des inhibiteurs du récepteur du facteur de croissance épidermique (à l'exclusion du ZD1839 et du C225).

The road of EGFR is an important road of initiation and progression disease. These receptors are highly expressed in the majority of tumours and this expression is associated with a poor prognostic, more aggressiveness, a poor response to treatment, and poor survival. Inhibition of EGFR is an interesting therapeutic approach. Out of ZD1839 and C225 many EGFR inhibitive agents are being evaluated in phase I, II and III trials. These agents that target the extracellular ligand-binding of the receptor include monoclonal antibodies (C225, EMD7200...) and complex ligand-toxins, others that target the intracellular ligand-binding of the receptor include small molecule tyrosine inhibitors (OS1774, ZD1839...). The results of phase I and II trials of the majority of these new agents are encouraging with a higher therapeutic index and lower toxicity than cytotoxic agents. It is necessary to confirm these results with phase II and III trials witch are now underway particularly for OS1774, EMD7200, ABX-EGF, PKI166, MD447 and ICR62.