Advantages and Disadvantages of Targeting the C-erbB Family of Receptors in Cancer Treatment: A Review

C-erbB (EGFR) signaling is well known to promote cancer invasiveness and metastasis. Several pharmacologic approaches have been used aiming to inhibit its activity, ie monoclonal antibodies, antibody-like molecules (peptidomimetics) and receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Several C-erbB signaling ‘inhibitors’, such as Trastuzumab, Cetuximab, gefitinib, erlotinib and lapatinib are now widely used in clinical practice, having revolutionized the management of certain malignancies, such as HER-2 positive breast cancer. In this review, we present an overview of the mechanism of action, pharmacokinetic properties, mechanism of resistance as well as the relative cost of administration for each group of EGFR inhibitors separately.