Targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor by erlotinib (Tarceva) for the treatment of esophageal cancer

Background & Aims: Esophageal cancer is the sixth most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Due to very poor 5-year-survival new therapeutic approaches are mandatory. Erlotinib (TarcevaTM), an inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (EGFR-TK), potently suppresses the growth of various tumors, but its effect on esophageal carcinoma, known to express EGFR, remains unexplored. We therefore studied the antineoplastic potency of erlotinib in human esophageal cancer cells. Results: Erlotinib induced growth inhibition of the human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell lines Kys…