Epidermic growth factor receptor (EGFR) in glioblastomas: the mechanism of tumorigenesis and its role as a therapeutic target
*Correspondencia: Dra. Cristina Zahonero Casans. Unidad de Neurooncología-UFIEC. Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Ctra. Majadahonda-Pozuelo, km 2,2. E-28220 Majadahonda (Madrid).
E-mail: cristina.zahonero@gmail.com
A glioblastoma is a primary brain tumour that is very aggressive and resistant to conventional treatment with chemo- or radiotherapy. Given that epidermic growth factor receptor (EGFR) is altered in 50% of glioblastomas, it is currently one of the most promising therapeutic targets in this kind of tumour. Yet, inhibitors of the kinase activity of EGFR have yielded poor results in clinical trials with patients with glioblastomas. In this review we analyse the function of EGFR in glioblastomas and outline the therapeutic approaches aimed against this receptor in this kind of tumour. This sort of analysis could be a starting point for improving the design of future therapies for glioblastomas, based on inhibiting the EGFR function.