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Therapeutic Gene Delivery and Transfection in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells using Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-targeted Gelatin Nanoparticles
Published on: January 4, 2012
Targeting EGFR in pancreatic cancer treatment
T Troiani1, E Martinelli, A Capasso
1Cattedra di Oncologia Medica, Dipartimento Medico-Chirurgico di Internistica Clinica e Sperimentale F. Magrassie A. Zanzara, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Naples, Italy.
Abstract:
The prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer is extremely poor, and current systemic therapies provide marginal survival benefits for treated patients. The era of targeted therapies has offered a new avenue to search for potentially more effective strategies. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a member of the erbB/human epidermal growth factor receptor family of tyrosine kinases, which includes erbB2/HER2, erbB3/HER3 and erbB4/HER4. Epidermal growth factor receptor overexpression may be detected in up to 90% of pancreatic tumors. Two pharmacologic approaches have been successfully used to inhibit epidermal growth factor receptor function in cancer treatment: neutralizing monoclonal antibodies and small molecule tyrosine inhibitors. The randomized trials studying the addition of EGFR targeted agents to gemcitabine compared with gemcitabine alone have been disappointing, although results with the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib were statistically significant but clinically of marginal benefit. In this article, we review the epidermal growth factor receptor signaling network in pancreatic cancer, the strategies to increase the effectiveness of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, and the clinical trials of these inhibitors in pancreatic cancer.
Insights
Targeted therapies like epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors show limited benefit for pancreatic cancer patients. Further strategies are needed to improve the effectiveness of EGFR inhibitors in clinical trials.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis with limited efficacy of current systemic therapies.
- Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in up to 90% of pancreatic tumors.
- Targeted therapies offer a potential strategy for improving treatment outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling network in pancreatic cancer.
- To discuss strategies for enhancing the efficacy of EGFR inhibitors.
- To summarize clinical trials evaluating EGFR inhibitors in pancreatic cancer.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on EGFR signaling and targeted therapies in pancreatic cancer.
- Analysis of clinical trial data for EGFR inhibitors combined with standard chemotherapy.
- Exploration of novel strategies to overcome resistance and improve treatment response.
Main Results:
- EGFR overexpression is common in pancreatic cancer, suggesting it as a therapeutic target.
- Clinical trials combining EGFR inhibitors (e.g., erlotinib) with gemcitabine have shown marginal survival benefits.
- Current targeted approaches have yielded disappointing results, necessitating further research.
Conclusions:
- Despite EGFR overexpression, targeted therapies have not significantly improved outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients.
- Strategies to enhance EGFR inhibitor effectiveness are crucial for future treatment development.
- Further research into the EGFR signaling network and novel therapeutic combinations is warranted.
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