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Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its activated downstream signalling pathways play a crucial role in colorectal cancer development and progression. After four decades of preclinical, translational, and clinical research, it has been shown that blocking the EGFR signalling pathway at different molecular levels represents a fundamental therapeutic strategy for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Nevertheless, the efficacy of molecularly targeted therapies is inescapably limited by the insurgence of mechanisms of acquired cancer cell resistance. Thus, in the era of precision medicine, a deeper understanding of the complex molecular landscape of metastatic colorectal cancer is required to deliver the best treatment choices to all patients. Major efforts are currently ongoing to improve patient selection, improve the efficacy of available treatments targeting the EGFR pathway, and develop novel combination strategies to overcome therapy resistance within the continuum of care of metastatic colorectal cancer., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests SN received travel grants from Amgen and Merck. GM reports honoraria from Servier and Incyte. DC received travel grants from Sanofi, BMS, and Merck. EM received travel grants from AstraZeneca and Pierre Fabre and is an advisory board member for AstraZeneca, Bayer, Amgen, Merck, Roche, Sanofi, Servier, and Pierre Fabre. TT received travel grants from AstraZeneca and Pierre Fabre and is an advisory board member for AstraZeneca, Bayer, Amgen, Merck, Roche, Sanofi, Servier, and Pierre Fabre. FC served on the advisory board for Amgen and Servier when conducting this study and serves on advisory boards for Merck Sharp & Dohme, Merck, Roche, Pfizer, Bayer, Pierre Fabre, and Eisai. SDT declares no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.)

Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) are the current recommended option for the first-line treatment of patients with EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Resistance to first-generation TKIs led to the development of second- and third-generation TKIs with improved clinical outcomes. However, sequential administration of TKIs has led to the emergence of new EGFR resistance mutations and persistent tumor cell survival. This evidence highlights the potential role of EGFR in transducing growth signals in NSCLC tumor cells. Therefore, dual inhibition of EGFR using combinations of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and EGFR-TKIs may offer a unique treatment strategy to suppress tumor cell growth. Several clinical studies have demonstrated the benefits of dual blockade of EGFR using anti-EGFR mAbs coupled with EGFR-TKIs in overcoming treatment resistance in patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC. However, a single treatment option may not result in the same clinical benefits in all patients with acquired resistance. Biomarkers, including EGFR overexpression, EGFR gene copy number, EGFR and KRAS mutations, and circulating tumor DNA, have been associated with improved clinical efficacy with anti-EGFR mAbs in patients with NSCLC and acquired resistance. Further investigation of biomarkers may allow patient selection for those who could benefit from anti-EGFR mAbs in combination with EGFR-TKIs. This review summarizes findings of recent studies of anti-EGFR mAbs in combination with EGFR-TKIs for the treatment of patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC, as well as clinical evidence for potential biomarkers towards personalized targeted medicine., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Hericium erinaceus , berberine, and quercetin are effective in experimental colitis. It is unknown whether they can ameliorate inflammatory bowel diseases in humans. This ex vivo study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of a nutraceutical compound of HBQ-Complex ® ( H. erinaceus , berberine, and quercetin), biotin, and niacin in inflammatory bowel disease patients. Tissue specimens were obtained either from Normal-Appearing Mucosa (NAM) or from Inflamed Mucosa (IM) in 20 patients with inflammatory bowel disease. mRNA and protein expression of COX-2, IL-10, and TNF-α were determined in NAM and IM biopsy samples (T0). IM samples were then incubated in HBQ-Complex ® (with the addition of niacin and biotin), and COX-2, IL-10, and TNF-α tissue levels were evaluated at 120 minutes (T1) and 180 minutes (T2). Incubation with this compound resulted in a progressive decrease in gene and protein COX-2 and TNF-α expression at T1/T2 in the IM. IL-10 showed an opposite trend, with a progressive increase of mRNA and protein expression over the same time window. HBQ-Complex ® (with the addition of niacin and biotin) decreased the expression of proinflammatory cytokines at the mRNA and protein levels in IBD tissue. On the contrary, mRNA and protein expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 showed a progressive increase., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Gravina, Pellegrino, Palladino, Coppola, Brandimarte, Tuccillo, Ciardiello, Romano and Federico.)

Importance: Current third-line therapies for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC) have limited efficacy. Rechallenge with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors for RAS wild-type (WT) MCRC may be valuable for these patients., Objective: To compare the anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody panitumumab plus standard-of-care trifluridine-tipiracil with trifluridine-tipiracil alone as third-line therapy for RAS WT MCRC., Design, Setting, and Participants: This phase 2 randomized clinical trial (RCT) was conducted in 7 Italian centers from June 2019 to April 2022. Patients with refractory RAS WT MCRC who had a partial or complete response to first-line chemotherapy plus an anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody and an anti-EGFR drug-free interval of 4 or more months during second-line therapy were included., Interventions: Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive panitumumab plus trifluridine-tipiracil or trifluridine-tipiracil alone., Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS). Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) extended sequence variation analysis was performed in a subgroup of patients., Results: Of 62 included patients, 31 received panitumumab plus trifluridine-tipiracil (19 [61.3%] male; median age, 65 years [range, 39-81 years]) and 31 received trifluridine-tipiracil alone (17 [54.8%] male; median age, 66 years [range, 32-82 years]). The primary end point was met. Median PFS was 4.0 months (95% CI, 2.8-5.3 months) in the panitumumab plus trifluridine-tipiracil arm vs 2.5 months (95% CI, 1.4-3.6 months) in the trifluridine-tipiracil only (hazard ratio [HR], 0.48; 95% CI, 0.28-0.82; P = .007). Pretreatment plasma RAS/BRAF WT ctDNA identified patients obtaining prolonged clinical benefit with panitumumab plus trifluridine-tipiracil compared with trifluridine-tipiracil, with PFS rates at 6 months of 38.5% vs 13.0% and at 12 months of 15.4% vs 0%. A ctDNA liquid-biopsy extended mutation analysis by FoundationOne Liquid CDx (profiling 324 genes) was performed in a subgroup of patients with baseline plasma RAS/BRAF WT ctDNA; in 15 of 23 patients (65.2%) whose tumors were WT for KRAS, NRAS, BRAFV600E, EGFR, ERBB2, MAP2K1, and PIK3CA, median PFS was 6.4 months (95% CI, 3.7-9.2 months). Within this group of 15 patients, 2 (13.3%) had partial response, 11 (73.3%) had stable disease, and 2 (13.3%) had disease progression as best response., Conclusions and Relevance: In this RCT, third-line treatment with the anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody panitumumab plus the standard-of-care trifluridine-tipiracil resulted in improved PFS compared with treatment with trifluridine-tipiracil alone among patients with refractory RAS WT MCRC. The findings support the clinical utility of liquid biopsy-guided anti-EGFR rechallenge therapy for refractory RAS WT MCRC., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05468892.

Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody blocking the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). However, cetuximab treatment has no clinical benefits in patients affected by mCRC with KRAS mutation or in the presence of constitutive activation of signalling pathways acting downstream of the EGFR. The aim of this study was to improve cetuximab's therapeutic action by conjugating cetuximab with the type 1 ribosome inactivating protein (RIP) quinoin isolated from quinoa seeds. A chemical conjugation strategy based on the use of heterobifunctional reagent succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate (SPDP) was applied to obtain the antibody-type 1 RIP chimeric immunoconjugate. The immunotoxin was then purified by chromatographic technique, and its enzymatic action was evaluated compared to quinoin alone. Functional assays were performed to test the cytotoxic action of the quinoin cetuximab immunoconjugate against the cetuximab-resistant GEO-CR cells. The novel quinoin cetuximab immunoconjugate showed a significant dose-dependent cytotoxicity towards GEO-CR cells, achieving IC 50 values of 27.7 nM (~5.0 μg/mL) at 72 h compared to cetuximab (IC 50 = 176.7 nM) or quinoin (IC 50 = 149.3 nM) alone assayed in equimolar amounts. These results support the therapeutic potential of quinoin cetuximab immunoconjugate for the EGFR targeted therapy, providing a promising candidate for further development towards clinical use in the treatment of cetuximab-resistant metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background: In the BEACON CRC study (NCT02928224), encorafenib plus cetuximab with binimetinib {9.3 versus 5.9 months; hazard ratio (HR) [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 0.60 [0.47-0.75]} or without binimetinib [9.3 versus 5.9 months; HR (95% CI): 0.61 (0.48-0.77)] significantly improved overall survival (OS) compared with the previous standard of care (control) in patients with BRAF V600E metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Quality of life (QoL) was a secondary endpoint, assessed using validated instruments., Patients and Methods: BEACON CRC was a randomized, open-label, phase III study comparing encorafenib plus cetuximab with or without binimetinib and the investigator's choice of irinotecan plus cetuximab or FOLFIRI plus cetuximab (chemotherapy control) in patients with previously treated BRAF V600E mCRC. Patient-reported QoL assessments included the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC) and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal (FACT-C). The primary outcome for these tools was time to definitive 10% deterioration., Results: Encorafenib plus cetuximab, both with and without binimetinib, was associated with longer median times to definitive 10% deterioration versus the control group in the EORTC Global Health Status scale [HR (95% CI): 0.65 (0.52-0.80) versus 0.61 (0.49-0.75), respectively] and the FACT-C functional well-being subscale [HR (95% CI): 0.62 (0.50-0.76) versus 0.58 (0.47-0.72), respectively]. Consistent results were observed across all subscales of the EORTC and FACT-C instruments. QoL was generally maintained during treatment for the global EORTC and FACT-C scales., Conclusions: In addition to improving OS, encorafenib plus cetuximab with or without binimetinib delays QoL decline in previously treated patients with BRAF V600E-mutant mCRC., Competing Interests: Disclosure SK: Stock and other ownership interests: MolecularMatch, Navire; consulting or advisory role: Roche, Genentech, EMD Serono, Merck, Karyopharm Therapeutics, Amal Therapeutics, Navire Pharma, Symphogen, Holy Stone, Biocartis, Amgen, Novartis, Eli Lilly, Boehringer Ingelheim; research funding: Amgen (Inst), Sanofi (Inst), Biocartis (Inst), Guardant Health (Inst), Array BioPharma (Inst), Genentech (Inst), EMD Serono (Inst), MedImmune (Inst), Novartis (Inst). AG: Honoraria: Elsevier, Aptitude Health; consulting or advisory role: Genentech (Inst), Bayer (Inst), Bristol-Myers Squibb (Inst), Eli Lilly (Inst), Boston Biomedical (Inst), Amgen (Inst), Array BioPharma (Inst), Guardant Health (Inst), Daiichi Sankyo (Inst); research funding: Genentech (Inst), Bayer (Inst), Pfizer (Inst), Eisai (Inst), Eli Lilly (Inst), Boston Biomedical (Inst), Daiichi Sankyo (Inst), Array BioPharma (Inst); travel, accommodations, expenses: Genentech, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boston Biomedical, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck Sharp & Dohme. EVC: Consulting or advisory role: Array, Bayer, Biocartis, Eli Lilly, Ipsen, Roche, Servier, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Merck KGaA, Novartis, AstraZeneca, Sirtex, Taiho, Pierre Fabre; research funding: Amgen (Inst), Bayer (Inst), Boehringer Ingelheim (Inst), Eli Lilly (Inst), Novartis (Inst), Roche (Inst), Celgene (Inst), Ipsen (Inst), Merck (Inst), Merck KGaA (Inst), Servier (Inst), Bristol-Myers Squibb (Inst). RY: Research funding: Array BioPharma (Inst), Boehringer Ingelheim (Inst), Mirati Therapeutics (Inst); consulting: Array BioPharma, Natera, Mirati Therapeutics. HW: Honoraria: Merck KGaA, Celgene, Sirtex Medical, Servier, Array BioPharma, Shire, Genentech, ERYTECH Pharma, Amgen, Zymeworks, Pierre Fabre; consulting or advisory role: Roche Pharma AG, Sirtex Medical, ERYTECH Pharma, Shire, Incyte; speakers’ bureau: Sirtex Medical, Celgene, Merck KGaA, Servier; research funding: Sirtex Medical (Inst), Merck KGaA (Inst), Pfizer (Inst), Merck Sharp & Dohme (Inst). TY: Research funding: Chugai Pharma (Inst), Sanofi (Inst), Sumitomo Dainippon (Inst), Daiichi Sankyo (Inst), MSD (Inst), Taiho (Inst), Ono (Inst), Amgen (Inst), Parexel International (Inst). JD: Consulting or advisory role: Bionomics, Eli Lilly, Eisai, BeiGene, Ignyta (Inst); research funding: Roche (Inst), GlaxoSmithKline (Inst), Novartis (Inst), Bionomics (Inst), MedImmune (Inst), BeiGene (Inst), Eli Lilly (Inst), Bristol-Myers Squibb (Inst). FC: Consulting or advisory role: Genentech, Merck KGaA, Bayer, Amgen, Pfizer; research funding: Merck KGaA (Inst), Genentech (Inst), Servier (Inst), Symphogen (Inst), Amgen (Inst), Bayer (Inst), Merck Sharp & Dohme (Inst), Bristol-Myers Squibb (Inst), Ipsen (Inst). TKG: Honoraria: Pierre Fabre (inst). NS provided consultation or attended advisory boards for AIMM Therapeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ellipses Pharma and received research grants for the institute from AB Science, Abbvie, Actuate Therapeutics, Amgen, Array, AstraZeneca/MedImmune, Bayer, Blueprint Medicines, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cantargia, CellCentric, Cytovation, Deciphera, Genentech/Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, Incyte, Lilly, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Merus, Molecular Partners, Novartis, Pfizer, Pierre Fabre, Roche, Sanofi, Taiho, Takeda (outside the submitted work). HTA: Employment: Sarah Cannon Research Institute UK and HCAHealthcare UK; advisory boards: Roche, Servier, Biontech, Beigene, Guardant, Bayer, iOnctura, Bicycle. AB and XZ: Employment: Pfizer Inc. JT: Consulting or advisory role: Array Biopharma, AstraZeneca, Avvinity, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chugai, DaiichiSankyo, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Genentech Inc, HalioDX SAS, Hutchison MediPharmaInternational, Ikena Oncology, IQVIA, Lilly, Menarini, Merck Serono, Merus, MSD, Mirati, Neophore, Novartis, Ona Therapeutics, Orion Biotechnology, Peptomyc, Pfizer, Pierre Fabre, Samsung Bioepis, Sanofi, Seattle Genetics, Scandion Oncology, Servier, Sotio Biotech, Taiho, Tessa Therapeutics and TheraMyc. And also educational collaboration with Imedex, Medscape Education, MJH Life Sciences, PeerView Institute for Medical Education and Physicians Education Resource (PER). All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest. Data sharing Upon request, and subject to review, Pfizer will provide the data that support the findings of this study. Subject to certain criteria, conditions, and exceptions, Pfizer may also provide access to the related individual de-identified participant data. See https://www.pfizer.com/science/clinical-trials/trial-data-and-results for more information., (Copyright © 2022 The Pfizer, The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN) has been demonstrated to be a prognostic factor in several cancer conditions. We previously found a significant prognostic value of CIN on overall survival (OS), in a pooled dataset of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving first line chemotherapy from 1996 to 2001. However, the prognostic role of CIN in NSCLC is still debated., Methods: We performed a post hoc analysis pooling data prospectively collected in six randomized phase 3 trials in NSCLC conducted from 2002 to 2016. Patients who never started chemotherapy and those for whom toxicity data were missing were excluded. Neutropenia was categorized on the basis of worst grade during chemotherapy: absent (grade 0), mild (grade 1-2), or severe (grade 3-4). The primary endpoint was OS. Multivariable Cox model was applied for statistical analyses. In the primary analysis, a minimum time (landmark) at 180 days from randomization was applied in order to minimize the time-dependent bias., Results: Overall, 1529 patients, who received chemotherapy, were eligible; 572 of them (who received 6 cycles of treatment) represented the landmark population. Severe CIN was reported in 143 (25.0%) patients and mild CIN in 135 (23.6%). At multivariable OS analysis, CIN was significantly predictive of prognosis although its prognostic value was entirely driven by severe CIN (hazard ratio [HR] of death 0.71; 95%CI: 0.53-0.95) while it was not evident with mild CIN (HR 1.21; 95%CI: 0.92-1.58). Consistent results were observed in the out-of-landmark group (including 957 patients), where both severe and mild CIN were significantly associated with a reduced risk of death., Conclusion: The pooled analysis of six large trials of NSCLC treatment shows that CIN occurrence is significantly associated with a longer overall survival, particularly in patients developing severe CIN, confirming our previous findings.

Opinion Statement: About 70-80% of early breast cancer (BC) patients receive adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) for at least 5 years. ET includes in the majority of cases the use of aromatase inhibitors, as upfront or switch strategy, that lead to impaired bone health. Given the high incidence and also the high prevalence of BC, cancer treatment-induced bone loss (CTIBL) represents the most common long-term adverse event experimented by patients with hormone receptor positive tumours. CTIBL is responsible for osteoporosis occurrence and, as a consequence, fragility fractures that may negatively affect quality of life and survival expectancy. As recommended by main international guidelines, BC women on aromatase inhibitors should be carefully assessed for their fracture risk at baseline and periodically reassessed during adjuvant ET in order to early detect significant worsening in terms of bone health. Antiresorptive agents, together with adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D, should be administered in BC patients during all course of ET, especially in those at high risk of osteoporotic fractures, as calculated by tools available for clinicians. Bisphosphonates, such as zoledronate or pamidronate, and anti-RANKL antibody, denosumab, are the two classes of antiresorptive drugs used in clinical practice with similar efficacy in preventing bone loss induced by aromatase inhibitor therapy. The choice between them, in the absence of direct comparison, should be based on patients' preference and compliance; the different safety profile is mainly related to the route of administration, although both types of drugs are manageable with due care, since most of the adverse events are predictable and preventable. Despite advances in management of CTIBL, several issues such as the optimal time of starting antiresorptive agents and the duration of treatment remain unanswered. Future clinical trials as well as increased awareness of bone health are needed to improve prevention, assessment and treatment of CTIBL in these long-term survivor patients.

This position statement from the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology Cardio-Oncology Study Group in collaboration with the International Cardio-Oncology Society presents practical, easy-to-use and evidence-based risk stratification tools for oncologists, haemato-oncologists and cardiologists to use in their clinical practice to risk stratify oncology patients prior to receiving cancer therapies known to cause heart failure or other serious cardiovascular toxicities. Baseline risk stratification proformas are presented for oncology patients prior to receiving the following cancer therapies: anthracycline chemotherapy, HER2-targeted therapies such as trastuzumab, vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors, second and third generation multi-targeted kinase inhibitors for chronic myeloid leukaemia targeting BCR-ABL, multiple myeloma therapies (proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory drugs), RAF and MEK inhibitors or androgen deprivation therapies. Applying these risk stratification proformas will allow clinicians to stratify cancer patients into low, medium, high and very high risk of cardiovascular complications prior to starting treatment, with the aim of improving personalised approaches to minimise the risk of cardiovascular toxicity from cancer therapies., (© 2020 The Authors. European Journal of Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Society of Cardiology.)

Serum biomarkers are an important tool in the baseline risk assessment and diagnosis of cardiovascular disease in cancer patients receiving cardiotoxic cancer treatments. Increases in cardiac biomarkers including cardiac troponin and natriuretic peptides can be used to guide initiation of cardioprotective treatments for cancer patients during treatment and to monitor the response to cardioprotective treatments, and they also offer prognostic value. This position statement examines the role of cardiac biomarkers in the management of cancer patients. The Cardio-Oncology Study Group of the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) in collaboration with the Cardio-Oncology Council of the ESC have evaluated the current evidence for the role of cardiovascular biomarkers in cancer patients before, during and after cardiotoxic cancer therapies. The characteristics of the main two biomarkers troponin and natriuretic peptides are discussed, the link to the mechanisms of cardiovascular toxicity, and the evidence for their clinical use in surveillance during and after anthracycline chemotherapy, trastuzumab and HER2-targeted therapies, vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors, proteasome inhibitors, immune checkpoint inhibitors, cyclophosphamide and radiotherapy. Novel surveillance clinical pathways integrating cardiac biomarkers for cancer patients receiving anthracycline chemotherapy or trastuzumab biomarkers are presented and future direction in cardio-oncology biomarker research is discussed., (© 2020 European Society of Cardiology.)

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors are valuable therapeutics in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), such as cetuximab or panitumumab, in combination with chemotherapy are effective treatment options for patients with RAS and BRAF wild-type mCRC. Nevertheless, several issues are still open concerning the optimal use of anti-EGFR drugs in the continuum of care of mCRC. Novel approaches for increasing the efficacy of anti-EGFR therapies include better molecular selection of EGFR-dependent mCRC, intensification of chemotherapy, combination of anti-EGFR MoAbs and immune checkpoint inhibitors, and reintroduction of EGFR blockade or 'rechallenge' in selected patients who have previously responded to anti-EGFR MoAb therapy. An extensive translational research program was conducted in the Cetuximab After Progression in KRAS wIld-type colorectal cancer patients-Gruppo Oncologico dell' Italia Meridionale (CAPRI-GOIM) study with the aims of determining which subgroups of patients could benefit from the continuous inhibition of EGFR, from evaluating the role of liquid biopsy-based and its concordance with tissue-based molecular testing, and from investigating novel potential mechanisms of resistance to anti-EGFR therapies. In this review, we summarize the translational and clinical findings of the CAPRI-GOIM program in the context of the current knowledge of therapeutic strategies and of ongoing research on more appropriate uses of anti-EGFR therapies in RAS and BRAF wild-type mCRC patients., (Copyright © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

This article reviews the main toxic effect, complications and relative imaging findings of the liver that may appear during the oncologic follow up among patients affected by gastrointestinal malignancy. Awareness of the causative chemotherapeutic agent and regimens, pathophysiology and relative characteristic imaging findings of hepatic injuries is critical in order to obtain an accurate diagnosis especially when these parenchymal lesions are focal. An accurate synergic radiological diagnosis with Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance (MR) techniques may induce a potential termination of ineffective/toxic chemotherapy during early phases of treatment, changing the therapeutic plan in order to avoid first unnecessary liver biopsy and then invasive treatment as hepatic resection if not required.

Two inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway taselisib, targeting the mutant PI3K-subunit-alpha (PI3KA) and ipatasertib, AKT-inhibitor, are currently under clinical investigation in breast cancer (BC) patients. We have previously demonstrated the anti-tumor efficacy of these anti-PI3K/AKT-inibitors in combination with anti-microtubule drugs in human BC cell lines, through a complete cytoskeleton disorganization. In this work, we generated ex-vivo three-dimensional (3D) cultures from human BC as a model to test drug efficacy and to identify new molecular biomarkers for selection of BC patients suitable for anti-PI3K/AKT-inibitors treatment. We have established 3D cultures from 25/27 human BC samples, in which the ability of growth in vitro replicates the clinical and biological aggressiveness of the original tumors. According to the results of next generation sequencing analysis, a direct correlation was found between PI3KA mutations and the sensitivity in 3D models in vitro to taselisib and ipatasertib alone and combined with anti-microtubule agents. Moreover, mutations in HER and MAPK families related genes, including EGFR, KRAS and BRAF, were found in resistant samples, suggesting their potential role as negative predictive factors of response to these agents. Thus, we demonstrated that ex vivo 3D cultures from human BC patients allow a rapid and efficient drug screening for chemotherapies and targeted agents in genetically selected patients and represent an innovative model to identify new biomarkers of drug resistance., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Although melanoma is amenable to early detection, there has been no decline in the mortality rate of this disease and the prognosis of patients with high-risk primary melanoma or with macroscopic nodal involvement remains poor. The best option for patients with higher-risk melanoma is to receive effective adjuvant therapy in order to reduce their chances of recurrence. Multiple systemic therapeutic agents have been tested as adjuvant therapy for melanoma with durable benefits seen only with interferon- to date. More recently ipilimumab at the high dose of 10 mg/kg has shown a significant improvement in terms of Relapse free survival and Overall survival for stage III melanoma patients but at a significant cost in terms of immune-related toxicities. More recently, novel treatment options have emerged. The results from the latest trials with immunotherapy (PD-1 inhibitors) and molecular targeted therapy (BRAF inhibitor + MEK inhibitor) have revolutionized the management of adjuvant treatment for melanoma. As the results from these trials will mature in the next years, a change in the landscape of adjuvant treatment for melanoma is expected, resulting in new challenges in treatment decisions such as optimizing patients' selection through predictive and prognostic biomarkers, and management of treatment related adverse events, in particular immune related toxicities., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Angiogenesis is critical to colorectal cancer (CRC) growth and metastasis. Phase I/II studies have demonstrated the efficacy of nintedanib, a triple angiokinase inhibitor, in patients with metastatic CRC. This global, randomized, phase III study investigated the efficacy and safety of nintedanib in patients with refractory CRC after failure of standard therapies., Patients and Methods: Eligible patients (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-1, with histologically/cytologically confirmed metastatic/locally advanced CRC adenocarcinoma unamenable to surgery and/or radiotherapy) were randomized 1 : 1 to receive nintedanib (200 mg twice daily) or placebo (twice daily), until disease progression or undue toxicity. Patients were stratified by previous regorafenib, time from onset of metastatic disease to randomization, and region. Co-primary end points were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) by central review. Secondary end points included objective tumor response and disease control by central review., Results: From October 2014 to January 2016, 768 patients were randomized; 765 were treated (nintedanib n = 384; placebo n = 381). Median follow-up was 13.4 months (interquartile range 11.1-15.7). OS was not improved [median OS 6.4 months with nintedanib versus 6.0 months with placebo; hazard ratio (HR), 1.01; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.86-1.19; P = 0.8659]. There was a significant but modest increase in PFS with nintedanib versus placebo (median PFS 1.5 versus 1.4 months, respectively; HR 0.58; 95% CI 0.49-0.69; P < 0.0001). There were no complete or partial responses. Adverse events (AEs) occurred in 97% of 384 nintedanib-treated patients and 93% of 381 placebo-treated patients. The most frequent grade ≥3 AEs were liver-related AEs (nintedanib 16%; placebo 8%) and fatigue (nintedanib 9%; placebo 6%)., Conclusions: The study failed to meet both co-primary end points. Nintedanib did not improve OS and was associated with a significant but modest increase in PFS versus placebo. Nintedanib was well tolerated., Clinicaltrials.gov Number: NCT02149108 (LUME-Colon 1).

Purpose of Review: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for 15-20% of diagnosed breast tumours, with higher incidence in young and African-American women, and it is frequently associated with BRCA germline mutations. Chemotherapy is the only well-established therapeutic option in both early- and advanced-stages of the disease. TNBC tumours relapse earlier after standard anthracycline- and/or taxane-based chemotherapy treatments, generally within 1-3 years after the diagnosis, and often develop visceral metastases, representing the subtype with a worse prognosis among all breast cancers. In the present review, we will provide an updated overview of the available results of recent clinical trials for this disease and we will describe the implications of the known molecular pathways representing novel targets for development of future therapies for TNBC patients., Recent Findings: Over the past decade, the advent of gene expression micro-array technology has led to the identification of different actionable targets including various genomic alterations, androgen receptor, PARP, PI3K, VEGF and other proteins of the angiogenic pathway. Thus, novel targeted drugs have been tested in clinical trials reporting promising results in specific TNBC molecular subgroups. Although cytotoxic chemotherapy remains the mainstay of treatment for TNBC patients, the identification of novel 'drugable' targets and pathways for developing personalized treatments represents a promising investigational approach in the management of the TNBC subtype.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) of the EGF receptor (EGFR) have provided a significant improvement in the disease outcome of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Unfortunately, resistance to these agents frequently occurs, and it is often related to the activation of the Hedgehog (Hh) and MET signaling cascades driving the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Because the concomitant inhibition of both Hh and MET pathways restores the sensitivity to anti-EGFR drugs, here we aimed at discovering the first compounds that block simultaneously MET and SMO. By using an "in silico drug repurposing" approach and by validating our predictions both in vitro and in vivo, we identified a set of compounds with the desired dual inhibitory activity and enhanced antiproliferative activity on EGFR TKI-resistant NSCLC. The identification of the known MET TKIs, glesatinib and foretinib, as negative modulators of the Hh pathway, widens their application in the context of NSCLC.

In the last two decades, great efforts have been made in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) due to the approval of new target agents for cytotoxic drugs. Unfortunately, a large percentage of patients present with metastasis at the time of diagnosis or relapse after a few months. The complex molecular heterogeneity of this disease is not completely understood; to date, there is a lack of predictive biomarkers that can be used to select subsets of patients who may respond to target drugs. Only the RAS -mutation status is used to predict resistance to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor agents in patients with mCRC. In this review, we describe approved targeted therapies for the management of metastatic mCRC and discuss new candidate targets on the horizon., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: Authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Purpose: The aim of this work was to investigate the efficacy of sequential treatment with first-, second- and third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors and the mechanisms of acquired resistance occurring during the sequential use of these inhibitors., Experimental Design: We developed an in vivo model of acquired resistance to EGFR-inhibitors by treating nude mice xenografted with HCC827, a human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line harboring EGFR activating mutation, with a sequence of first-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) (erlotinib and gefitinib), of second-generation EGFR-TKI (afatinib) plus/minus the anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody cetuximab, and of third-generation EGFR-TKI (osimertinib)., Results: HCC827-derived xenografts and with acquired resistance to EGFR-inhibitors were sensitive to the sequential use of first-, second- and third-generation EGFR-TKIs. Continuous EGFR inhibition of first-generation resistant tumors by sequential treatment with afatinib plus/minus cetuximab, followed by osimertinib, represented an effective therapeutic strategy in this model. Whereas T790M resistance mutation was not detected, a major mechanism of acquired resistance was the activation of components of the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway. This phenomenon was accompanied by epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Cell lines established in vitro from gefitinib-, or afatinib- or osimertinib-resistant tumors showed metastatic properties and maintained EGFR-TKIs resistance in vitro, that was reverted by the combined blockade of Hh, with the selective SMO inhibitor sonidegib, and EGFR., Conclusions: EGFR-mutant NSCLC can benefit from continuous treatment with EGFR-inhibitors, indepenently from mechanisms of resistance. In a complex and heterogenous scenario, Hh showed an important role in mediating resistance to EGFR-inhibitors through the induction of mesenchymal properties.

The mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) mediate intracellular signals activated by a wide variety of extracellular stimuli. The activation of the RAS-RAF-MEK-MAPK cascade culminates in the regulation of gene transcription promoting cancer cell proliferation, survival, migration and angiogenesis. MEK (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-MAPKK) 1/2 is a transducer of the growth factor receptor-RAS-RAF-MAPK signalling cascade and plays a relevant role in development and progression of human cancers, such as colorectal cancer (CRC), non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Direct inhibition of MEK is a promising strategy and several inhibitors are currently under evaluation in clinical trials showing initial clinical activity in different tumours. MEK activation, by different genetic mechanisms, has been described for both intrinsic and acquired resistance to drugs targeting the EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor)-RAS-RAF pathway in CRC, NSCLC. Combination therapies with chemotherapy and/or with molecular targeted agents are warranted and biomarkers studies are needed to identify those tumours dependent on MEK signalling., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Atezolizumab is a humanised antiprogrammed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) monoclonal antibody that inhibits PD-L1 and programmed death-1 (PD-1) and PD-L1 and B7-1 interactions, reinvigorating anticancer immunity. We assessed its efficacy and safety versus docetaxel in previously treated patients with non-small-cell lung cancer., Methods: We did a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial (OAK) in 194 academic or community oncology centres in 31 countries. We enrolled patients who had squamous or non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer, were 18 years or older, had measurable disease per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, and had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1. Patients had received one to two previous cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens (one or more platinum based combination therapies) for stage IIIB or IV non-small-cell lung cancer. Patients with a history of autoimmune disease and those who had received previous treatments with docetaxel, CD137 agonists, anti-CTLA4, or therapies targeting the PD-L1 and PD-1 pathway were excluded. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to intravenously receive either atezolizumab 1200 mg or docetaxel 75 mg/m 2 every 3 weeks by permuted block randomisation (block size of eight) via an interactive voice or web response system. Coprimary endpoints were overall survival in the intention-to-treat (ITT) and PD-L1-expression population TC1/2/3 or IC1/2/3 (≥1% PD-L1 on tumour cells or tumour-infiltrating immune cells). The primary efficacy analysis was done in the first 850 of 1225 enrolled patients. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02008227., Findings: Between March 11, 2014, and April 29, 2015, 1225 patients were recruited. In the primary population, 425 patients were randomly assigned to receive atezolizumab and 425 patients were assigned to receive docetaxel. Overall survival was significantly longer with atezolizumab in the ITT and PD-L1-expression populations. In the ITT population, overall survival was improved with atezolizumab compared with docetaxel (median overall survival was 13·8 months [95% CI 11·8-15·7] vs 9·6 months [8·6-11·2]; hazard ratio [HR] 0·73 [95% CI 0·62-0·87], p=0·0003). Overall survival in the TC1/2/3 or IC1/2/3 population was improved with atezolizumab (n=241) compared with docetaxel (n=222; median overall survival was 15·7 months [95% CI 12·6-18·0] with atezolizumab vs 10·3 months [8·8-12·0] with docetaxel; HR 0·74 [95% CI 0·58-0·93]; p=0·0102). Patients in the PD-L1 low or undetectable subgroup (TC0 and IC0) also had improved survival with atezolizumab (median overall survival 12·6 months vs 8·9 months; HR 0·75 [95% CI 0·59-0·96]). Overall survival improvement was similar in patients with squamous (HR 0·73 [95% CI 0·54-0·98]; n=112 in the atezolizumab group and n=110 in the docetaxel group) or non-squamous (0·73 [0·60-0·89]; n=313 and n=315) histology. Fewer patients had treatment-related grade 3 or 4 adverse events with atezolizumab (90 [15%] of 609 patients) versus docetaxel (247 [43%] of 578 patients). One treatment-related death from a respiratory tract infection was reported in the docetaxel group., Interpretation: To our knowledge, OAK is the first randomised phase 3 study to report results of a PD-L1-targeted therapy, with atezolizumab treatment resulting in a clinically relevant improvement of overall survival versus docetaxel in previously treated non-small-cell lung cancer, regardless of PD-L1 expression or histology, with a favourable safety profile., Funding: F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Genentech, Inc., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The prognosis of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) remain poor despite the impressive improvement of treatments observed over the last 20 years that led to an increase in median overall survival from 6 mo, with the only best supportive care, to approximately 30 mo with the introduction of active chemotherapy drugs and targeted agents. The monoclonal antibodies (moAbs) cetuximab and panitumumab, directed against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), undoubtedly represent a major step forward in the treatment of mCRC, given the relevant efficacy in terms of progression-free survival, overall survival, response rate, and quality of life observed in several phase III clinical trials among different lines of treatment. However, the anti-EGFR moAbs were shown only to be effective in a subset of patients. For instance, KRAS and NRAS mutations have been identified as biomarkers of resistance to these drugs, improving the selection of patients who might derive a benefit from these treatments. Nevertheless, several other alterations might affect the response to these drugs, and unfortunately, even the responders eventually become resistant by developing secondary (or acquired) resistance in approximately 13-18 mo. Several studies highlighted that the landscape of responsible alterations of both primary and acquired resistance to anti-EGFR drugs biochemically converge into MEK-ERK and PIK3CA-AKT pathways. In this review, we describe the currently known mechanisms of primary and acquired resistance to anti-EGFR moAbs together with the various strategies evaluated to prevent, overcame or revert them.

Background: Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer whose disease has progressed on oxaliplatin- and irinotecan-containing regimens may benefit from EGFR-inhibiting monoclonal antibodies if they do not contain mutations in the KRAS gene (are "wild type"). It is unknown whether these antibodies, such as cetuximab, are more efficacious in refractory metastatic colorectal cancer as monotherapy, or in combination with irinotecan. Lack of mutation in KRAS, BRAF and PIK3CA predicts response to EFGR-inhibitors. The ICECREAM trial examines the question of monotherapy versus combination with chemotherapy in two groups of patients: those with a "quadruple wild type" tumour genotype (no mutations in KRAS, NRAS, PI3KCA or BRAF genes) and those with the specific KRAS mutation in codon G13D, for whom possibly EGFR-inhibitor efficacy may be equivalent., Methods and Design: ICECREAM is a randomised, phase II, open-label, controlled trial comparing the efficacy of cetuximab alone or with irinotecan in patients with "quadruple wild type" or G13D-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer, whose disease has progressed on, or who are intolerant of oxaliplatin- and fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy. The primary endpoint is the 6-month progression-free survival benefit of the treatment regimen. Secondary endpoints are response rate, overall survival, and quality of life. The tertiary endpoint is prediction of outcome with further biological markers. International collaboration has facilitated recruitment in this prospective trial of treatment in these infrequently found molecular subsets of colorectal cancer., Discussion: This unique trial will yield prospective information on the efficacy of cetuximab and whether this is further enhanced with chemotherapy in two distinct populations of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: the "quadruple wild type", which may 'superselect' for tumours sensitive to EGFR-inhibition, and the rare KRAS G13D mutated tumours, which are also postulated to be sensitive to the drug. The focus on establishing both positive and negative predictive factors for the response to targeted therapy is an attempt to improve outcomes, reduce toxicity and contain treatment costs. Tissue and blood will yield a resource for molecular studies. Recruitment, particularly of patients with the rare G13D mutation, will demonstrate the ability for international collaboration to run prospective trials in small colorectal cancer molecular subgroups., Trial Registration: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12612000901808 , registered 16 August 2012.

Lung neuroendocrine tumors are a heterogeneous subtype of pulmonary cancers representing approximately 20% of all lung cancers, including small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC). The frequency appears to be approximately 3% for LCNEC. Diagnosis of LCNEC requires attention to neuroendocrine features by light microscopy and confirmation by immunohistochemical staining for neuroendocrine markers. Both SCLC and pulmonary LCNEC are high-grade and poor-prognosis tumors, with higher incidence in males and smokers and peripheral localization. LCNEC is very rare, and the precise diagnosis on small specimens is very difficult, so we have still too few data to define a standard of treatment for pulmonary LCNECs. Data of literature, most based on retrospective analysis, indicated a poor 5-year overall survival, with a high incidence of recurrence after surgery, even in stage I disease. Primary surgery should be the first option in all operable patients because there is no validate therapeutic approach for LCNEC due to lack of clinical trials in this setting. Neoadjuvant platinum-based regimens remain only an option for potentially resectable tumors. In advanced stages, SCLC-like chemotherapy seems the best option of treatment, with a good response rate but a poor overall survival (from 8 to 16 months in different case series). New agents are under clinical investigation to improve LCNEC patients' outcome. We reviewed all data on treatment options feasible for pulmonary LCNEC, both for localized and extensive disease.

Purpose: In colorectal cancer, the activation of the intracellular RAS-RAF and PIK3CA-AKT pathways has been implicated in the resistance to anti-EGFR mAbs. We have investigated the role of regorafenib, an oral multikinase inhibitor, in combination with cetuximab, an anti-EGFR mAb, to overcome anti-EGFR resistance., Experimental Design: We have tested, in vitro and in vivo, the effects of regorafenib in a panel of human colorectal cancer cell lines with a KRAS mutation (SW480, SW620, HCT116, LOVO, and HCT15) or with a BRAF mutation (HT29), as models of intrinsic resistance to cetuximab treatment, and in two human colorectal cancer cell lines (GEO and SW48) that are cetuximab-sensitive, as well as in their derived cells with acquired resistance to cetuximab (GEO-CR and SW48-CR)., Results: Treatment with regorafenib determined a dose-dependent growth inhibition in all colorectal cancer cell lines. The combined treatment with cetuximab and regorafenib induced synergistic antiproliferative and apoptotic effects in cetuximab-resistant cell lines by blocking MAPK and AKT pathways. Nude mice were injected s.c. with HCT116, HCT15, GEO-CR, and SW48-CR cells. The combined treatment caused significant tumor growth inhibition. Synergistic antitumor activity of regorafenib plus cetuximab was also observed in an orthotopic colorectal cancer model of HCT116 cells. In particular, the combined treatment induced a significant tumor growth inhibition in the primary tumor site (cecum) and completely prevented metastasis formation., Conclusions: The combined treatment with cetuximab and regorafenib could be a strategy to overcome resistance to anti-EGFR therapies in metastatic colorectal cancer patients., (©2015 American Association for Cancer Research.)

Purpose: Information about symptomatic toxicities of anticancer treatments is not based on direct report by patients, but rather on reports by clinicians in trials. Given the potential for under-reporting, our aim was to compare reporting by patients and physicians of six toxicities (anorexia, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and hair loss) within three randomized trials., Patients and Methods: In one trial, elderly patients with breast cancer received adjuvant chemotherapy; in two trials, patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer received first-line treatment. Toxicity was prospectively collected by investigators (graded by National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria [version 2.0] or Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [version 3]). At the end of each cycle, patients completed the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality-of-life questionnaires, including toxicity-related symptom items. Possible answers were "not at all," "a little," "quite a bit," and "very much." Analysis was limited to the first three cycles. For each toxicity, agreement between patients and physicians and under-reporting by physicians (ie, toxicity reported by patients but not reported by physicians) were calculated., Results: Overall, 1,090 patients (2,482 cycles) were included. Agreement between patients and physicians was low for all toxicities. Toxicity rates reported by physicians were always lower than those reported by patients. For patients who reported toxicity (any severity), under-reporting by physicians ranged from 40.7% to 74.4%. Examining only patients who reported "very much" toxicity, under-reporting by physicians ranged from 13.0% to 50.0%., Conclusion: Subjective toxicities are at high risk of under-reporting by physicians, even when prospectively collected within randomized trials. This strongly supports the incorporation of patient-reported outcomes into toxicity reporting in clinical trials., (© 2015 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.)

Introduction: Some tumors evade immune responses by exploiting immune checkpoint pathways and other regulatory mechanisms. Recent advances in the understanding of immune evasion strategies has given rise to development of novel immunotherapies that can restore the patient's own immune system to respond to and eliminate cancer cells., Areas Covered: Multiple agents targeting the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) pathway, both anti-PD-1 and anti-programmed death ligand-1 (a key ligand for PD-1) compounds, are currently in active clinical development for lung cancer. Preliminary data of efficacy as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy are promising. In this review, we will summarize the immunomodulatory environment in NSCLC, we will focus on immune-checkpoint inhibitors, and the data currently available in lung cancer., Expert Opinion: The immune-mediated therapies represent an exciting new therapeutic approach, but evidences are still early in lung cancer, and more data from clinical studies are needed to optimize the clinical impact of these therapies.

Gastric cancer is the fourth most common malignant neoplasm and the second leading cause of death for cancer in Western countries with more than 20000 new cases yearly diagnosed in the United States. Surgery represents the main approach for this disease but, notwithstanding the advances in surgical techniques, we observed a minimal improvement in terms of overall survival with a significant increasing of relapsing disease rates. Despite the development of new drugs has significantly improved the effectiveness of chemotherapy, the prognosis of patients with unresectable or metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma remains poor. Recently, several molecular target agents have been investigated; in particular, trastuzumab represents the first target molecule showing improvements in overall survival in human epithelial growth factor 2-positive gastric cancer patients. New molecules targeting vascular epithelial growth factor, mammalian target of rapamycin, and anti hepatocyte growth factor-c-Met pathway are also under investigation, with interesting results. Anyway, it seems necessary to select more accurately the population to treat with new agents by the identification of new biomarkers in order to optimize the results. In this paper we review the actual "scenario" of targeted treatments, also focusing on the new agents in development for gastric cancer and gastro-esophageal carcinoma, discussing their efficacy and potential applications in clinical practice.

Treatment of unselected patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving third-generation platinum-based chemotherapy has reached a plateau of effectiveness. Histology and molecular analyses are the cornerstone in the initial diagnosis of NSCLC and are key determinants to address the appropriate strategy of treatment. In non-squamous histology the combination of cisplatin plus pemetrexed or carboplatin plus paclitaxel plus bevacizumab are considered today the best regimens yielding better activity and efficacy. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), such as gefitinib, erlotinib or afatinib are the standard-of-care for patients with advanced NSCLC harbouring activating EGFR mutations. The identification of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements in 2-5% of NSCLC patients led to the rapid clinical development of its oral TKI, crizotinib, also targeting the proto-oncogene MET and ROS1. The results reported from the first phase III trial showed superiority of crizotinib compared with standard chemotherapy in second-line treatment of ALK-positive NSCLC, which was recently approved in several countries in this setting. Unfortunately, after initial activity of crizotinib, patients will ultimately develop acquired resistances within 1 or 2 years of therapy. A second generation of ALK inhibitors, such as LDK378, alectinib and AP26113 may represent a promising treatment approach: they are under investigation with very promising early results. This review discusses ALK rearrangements, the clinical development and use of crizotinib, and other ALK-TKIs in advanced NSCLC.

Purpose: The EGFR-independent activation of the RAS/RAF/MEK/MAPK pathway is one of the resistance mechanisms to cetuximab., Experimental Design: We have evaluated, in vitro and in vivo, the effects of BAY 86-9766, a selective MEK1/2 inhibitor, in a panel of human colorectal cancer cell lines with primary or acquired resistance to cetuximab., Results: Among the colorectal cancer cell lines, five with a KRAS mutation (LOVO, HCT116, HCT15, SW620, and SW480) and one with a BRAF mutation (HT29) were resistant to the antiproliferative effects of cetuximab, whereas two cells (GEO and SW48) were highly sensitive. Treatment with BAY 86-9766 determined dose-dependent growth inhibition in all cancer cells, including two human colorectal cancer cells with acquired resistance to cetuximab (GEO-CR and SW48-CR), with the exception of HCT15 cells. Combined treatment with cetuximab and BAY 86-9766 induced a synergistic antiproliferative and apoptotic effects with blockade in the MAPK and AKT pathway in cells with either primary or acquired resistance to cetuximab. The synergistic antiproliferative effects were confirmed using other two selective MEK1/2 inhibitors, selumetinib and pimasertib, in combination with cetuximab. Moreover, inhibition of MEK expression by siRNA restored cetuximab sensitivity in resistant cells. In nude mice bearing established human HCT15, HCT116, SW48-CR, and GEO-CR xenografts, the combined treatment with cetuximab and BAY 86-9766 caused significant tumor growth inhibition and increased mice survival., Conclusion: These results suggest that activation of MEK is involved in both primary and acquired resistance to cetuximab and the inhibition of EGFR and MEK could be a strategy for overcoming anti-EGFR resistance in patients with colorectal cancer., (©2014 American Association for Cancer Research.)

The availability of targeted drugs has made the assessment of the EGFR mutation and ALK rearrangement critical in choosing the optimal treatment for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In May 2013, the Italian Association of Thoracic Oncology (AIOT) organized an International Experts Panel Meeting to review strengths and limitations of the available evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of advanced NSCLC with EGFR or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) alterations and to discuss implications for clinical practice and future clinical research. All patients with advanced NSCLC, with the exclusion of pure squamous cell carcinoma in former or current smokers, should be tested for EGFR mutations and ALK rearrangements before decisions are made on first-line treatment. First-line treatment of EGFR-mutated cases should be with an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). Any available agent (gefitinib, erlotinib, or afatinib) can be used, until further data from comparative studies may better guide TKI selection. As general rule, and when clinically feasible, results of EGFR mutational status should be awaited before starting first-line treatment. Panelists agreed that the use of crizotinib is justified in any line of treatment. Although solid evidence supporting the continuation of EGFR TKIs or crizotinib beyond progression is lacking, in some cases (minimal, asymptomatic progression, or oligoprogression manageable by local therapy), treatment continuation beyond progression could be justified. Experimental strategies to target tumor heterogeneity and to treat patients after failure of EGFR TKIs or crizotinib are considered high-priority areas of research. A number of relevant research priorities were identified to optimize available treatment options., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Pharmacologic agents that target protein products of oncogenes in tumors are playing an increasing clinical role in the treatment of cancer. Currently, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) represent the standard of care for patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring activating EGFR mutations. Subsequently other genetic abnormalities with "driver" characteristics - implying transforming and tumor maintenance capabilities have been extensively reported in several small distinct subsets of NSCLC. Among these rare genetic changes, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements, most often consisting in a chromosome 2 inversion leading to a fusion with the echinoderm microtubule-associated protein like 4 (EML4) gene, results in the abnormal expression and activation of this tyrosine kinase in the cytoplasm of cancer cells. This rearrangement occurs in 2-5% of NSCLC, predominantly in young (50 years or younger), never- or former-smokers with adenocarcinoma. This aberration most commonly occurs a independently of EGFR and KRAS gene mutations. A fluorescent in situ hybridization assay was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the standard method for the detection of ALK gene rearrangement in clinical practice and is considered the gold standard. Crizotinib, a first-in-class dual ALK and c-MET inhibitor, has been shown to be particularly effective against ALK positive NSCLC, showing dramatic and prolonged responses with low toxicity, predominantly restricted to the gastro-intestinal and visual systems, and generally self-limiting or easily managed. However, resistance to crizotinib inevitably emerges. The molecular mechanisms of resistance are currently under investigation, as are therapeutic approaches including crizotinib-based combination therapy and novel agents such as Hsp90 inhibitors. This review aims to present the current knowledge on this fusion gene, the clinic-pathological profile of ALK rearranged NSCLC, and to review the existing literature on ALK inhibitors, focusing on their role in the treatment of NSCLC., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A number of successful systemic therapies are available for the treatment of disseminated cancers. However, tumor response is often transient, and therapy frequently fails due to emergence of resistant populations. The latter reflects the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment as well as the evolutionary capacity of cancer phenotypes to adapt to therapeutic perturbations. Resistance to either chemotherapy and targeted agents limits the effectiveness of current cancer therapies, including those used to treat metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) which is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Resistance to therapeutic drugs can be already present at diagnosis or it can develop after treatment. These two forms of resistance are respectively called intrinsic and acquired. The identification of mechanisms of drug resistance may highlight new biomarkers useful to predict the clinical outcome or the likely responsiveness to pharmacological treatment of those metastatic CRC patients who cannot benefit from current therapeutic regimen. Moreover, the recognition of panels of biomarkers may suggest new strategies to overcome resistance by rational drug design and combination treatment. In this review, we describe molecular mechanisms of resistance to chemotherapies and targeted agents that may be relevant to colorectal cancer and the possible strategies to overcome the resistance.

The activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibodies cetuximab and panitumumab in metastatic colorectal carcinoma (mCRC) is significantly limited by molecular mechanisms leading to intrinsic or acquired resistance. The S492R mutation of the EGFR, which is caused by either the 1476C>A or the 1474A>C substitution, interferes with binding to cetuximab but not to panitumumab, and has been detected in mCRC with acquired resistance to cetuximab. Since mechanisms of acquired and intrinsic resistance to EGFR monoclonal antibodies in CRC significantly overlap, we evaluated the frequency of the S492R mutation in a series of KRAS-exon 2 wild-type CRC patients. Genomic DNA was extracted from formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues that were obtained from 505 systemic therapy-naïve CRC patients. A PCR/sequencing method for the detection of the S492R mutation was developed, by using as positive control a plasmid in which the 1474A>C mutation was generated by site directed mutagenesis. The lowest level of detection of this assay was approximately 10% mutant DNA in a background of wild-type DNA. PCR sequencing analysis revealed no S492R mutations in any of the analyzed 505 CRC specimens. Our findings suggest that the S492R mutation is not involved in primary resistance to cetuximab in CRC. Therefore, patients with mCRC should not be routinely screened for this mutation prior therapy with cetuximab.

Introduction: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a rapidly progressive disease that accounts for approximately 15% of all lung cancers. Chemotherapy remains the cornerstone of treatment of SCLC, but in the last two decades, its progress has reached a plateau. Although a significant sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiotherapy is a feature of SCLC, an early development of drug resistance unavoidable occurs during the course of the disease. Second-line treatment for relapsed patients remains a very challenging setting, with a limited clinical benefit., Areas Covered: A thorough analysis of various therapeutic strategies reported in literature for SCLC treatment was performed. This review includes novel therapeutic approaches such as maintenance or consolidation treatments, new chemotherapy agents and targeted therapy., Expert Opinion: Against this background, there is a desperate need for the development of novel active drugs. Among these, amrubicin has also shown more favourable antitumor activity, and is the most promising at present. Concerning targeted agents, these have failed to demonstrate effectiveness for SCLC and a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms is clearly needed. In the future, further investigations are required to clarify the role of novel anti-angiogenic or pro-apoptotic agents and hedgehog pathway inhibitors.

Purpose: EGF receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) have been found to be effective against lung cancer, but clinical resistance to these agents has developed as their usage has increased. Metformin is a widely used antidiabetic drug and also displays significant growth-inhibitory and proapoptotic effects in several cancer models, alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs., Experimental Design: The effects of gefitinib, a selective EGFR-TKI, and metformin on a panel of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines were assessed by using MTT, bromide assay, flow cytometry, anchorage-independent growth, coimmunoprecipitation, and Western blot analysis., Results: The combination of metformin with gefitinib induced a strong antiproliferative and proapoptotic effect in NSCLC cell lines that harbored wild-type LKB1 gene. Treatment with metformin as single agent, however, induced an activation and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) through an increased C-RAF/B-RAF heterodimerization. The inhibition of EGFR phosphorylation and of downstream signaling by adding gefitinib to metformin treatment abrogated this phenomenon and induced a strong apoptotic effect in vitro and in vivo., Conclusions: Metformin and gefitinib are synergistic in LKB1 wild-type NSCLC cells. However, further studies are required to investigate better the effect of metformin action on the RAS/RAF/MAPK pathway and the best context in which to use metformin in combination with molecular targeted agents., (©2013 AACR.)

Introduction: Targeted agents have dramatically improved and enriched the therapeutical choices for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). By better understanding the role of the angiogenic pathway in colorectal cancer (CRC), new therapies have been developed. Bevacizumab, the first anti-angiogenetic agent approved for the treatment of mCRC provide a proof of concept since it has improved the progression-free survival and overall survival when combined with cytotoxic chemotherapy., Areas Covered: This review is focused on the most recent findings on the VEGF signaling pathway and new therapeutic drugs explored in clinical trials., Expert Opinion: Despite the advantage offered by bevacizumab, the median overall survival of mCRC patient exceeds 21 months; thus, investigational efforts are needed. Several antiangiogenic agents for the treatment of mCRC are being tested in preclinical and clinical Phase I/II trials. Unfortunately a discrete number of Phase III trials produced negative results. Recently aflibercept and regorafenib, two new antiangiogenic drugs, have been approved as the new-targeted agents for the treatment of mCRC, according to the positive findings from the VELOUR and the CORRECT studies. In order to maximize clinical impact it will be important to validate predictive biomarkers and best combination treatments to offer for mCRC patients; further research and intense investigation is still required.

Introduction: Mitosis is the key event of the cell cycle, and microtubules play an important part in an array of cellular functions besides mitosis, including maintenance of cell shape, cell locomotion, and the movement of intracellular organelles. Various anti-microtubule agents interfere with normal progression of mitosis, such as taxanes and vinca alkaloids. These compounds are widely used in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but their use has been limited by toxicity profile (hematologic and not), acquired resistance, and hypersensitivity reactions., Areas Covered: Recently innovative drug carrier such as nanoparticle showed to reduce toxicity and improve drugs' efficacy. Nanoparticle albumin-bound (nab)-paclitaxel has been recently approved for the use in breast and NSCLC with very promising results in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, the identification of novel mitotic drug targets other than microtubules has gained recently much attention, such as aurora kinases, Polo-like kinase1 (PLK1), kinesin spindle protein (KSP), and centromeric protein E (CENPE)., Expert Opinion: Despite recent advances in treatment, NSCLC continues to be the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Novel agents that target the spindle microtubule elements of mitosis, as well as those that target the non-microtubule effectors of mitosis, are under investigation.

Background: The CRYSTAL and OPUS randomised clinical trials demonstrated that adding cetuximab to first-line chemotherapy in patients with KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) significantly improved treatment outcome compared with chemotherapy alone. The objective of this pooled analysis was to further investigate these findings in patients with KRAS wild-type tumours using extended survival data and following an enhancement in the ascertainment rate of KRAS and BRAF tumour mutation status from these studies., Methods: Pooled individual patient data from each study were analysed for overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and best overall response rate (ORR) in patients evaluable for KRAS and BRAF mutation status. Treatment arms were compared according to mutation status using log-rank and Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel tests., Results: In 845 patients with KRAS wild-type tumours adding cetuximab to chemotherapy led to a significant improvement in OS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.81; p=0.0062), PFS (HR 0.66; p<0.001) and ORR (odds ratio 2.16; p<0.0001). BRAF mutations were detected in 70/800 evaluable tumours. No significant differences were found in outcome between the treatment groups in these patients. Prognosis was worse in each treatment arm for patients with BRAF tumour mutations compared with those with BRAF wild-type tumours., Conclusion: Analysis of pooled data from the CRYSTAL and OPUS studies confirms the consistency of the benefit obtained across all efficacy end-points from adding cetuximab to first-line chemotherapy in patients with KRAS wild-type mCRC. BRAF mutation does not appear to be a predictive biomarker in this setting, but is a marker of poor prognosis., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

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.

Lung cancer, of which non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common form, remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with many patients presenting with advanced disease at initial diagnosis. In advanced NSCLC patients whose tumors harbor activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, the use of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) as first-line treatment has provided an unusually large progression-free-survival (PFS) benefit, a significantly high response rate (RR) and decreased toxicity when compared with cytotoxic chemotherapy in several phase III randomized trials; however, resistance invariably occurs. There are multiple mechanisms defined by which tumor cells may become independent of EGFR such as the well-characterized example of mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (MET) amplification. Upon initial diagnosis of NSCLC, MET gene amplification is uncommon; however, acquired MET amplification has been noted in up to 20% of EGFR-mutated tumors that have been pretreated with an EGFR TKI. In tumors containing MET gene amplification, stimulation of the tumor occurs via the co-receptor HER-3 resulting in activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway, thereby circumventing the effects of an EGFR TKI. Recently, the targeting of the MET pathway has been attempted with small molecules and with monoclonal antibodies. This review will explain the MET signaling pathway and biology in cancer and the recent clinical development and advances of MET/HGF targeting agents in the treatment of advanced NSCLC.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief Concern has been raised about the duplication of the β-Actin protein blot in the western blots that are in Figure 3A and Figure 4C. The authors have been asked to provide an acceptable explanation for this and – after initial denial and being presented with an independent evaluation noted that the western blot for β-Actin in Figure 3A was erroneously uploaded as a partial duplication of the β-Actin western blot in Figure 4C. According to the authors, this mistake was due to the fact that both Figure 3A and Figure 4C are representing the same experiment with only different protein species presented in the two Figures and with the loading control β-Actin that is presented in both Figures. The Editor-in-Chief of the journal therefore feels that the findings of the manuscript cannot be relied upon and that the article needs to be retracted. All authors agree with this retraction and deeply regret these errors and apologize to the editorial board and readers for any inconvenience caused., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Treatment of non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) have substantially changed in the last years with the introduction of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors in the clinical practice. The understanding of mechanisms which regulate cells sensitivity to these drugs is necessary for their optimal use.An in vitro model of acquired resistance to two tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) targeting the EGFR, erlotinib and gefitinib, and to a TKI targeting EGFR and VEGFR, vandetanib, was developed by continuously treating the human NSCLC cell line CALU-3 and the human CRC cell line HCT116 with escalating doses of each drug. MTT, western blot analysis, migration, invasion and anchorage-independent colony forming assays were conducted in vitro and experiments with established xenografts in athymic nude mice were performed in vivo in sensitive, wild type (WT) and TKI-resistant CALU-3 and HCT116 cell lines.As compared to WT CALU-3 and HCT116 human cancer cells, TKI-resistant cell lines showed a significant increase in the levels of activated, phosphorylated AKT, MAPK, and of survivin. Considering the role of RAS and RAF as downstream signals of both the EGFR and VEGFR pathways, we treated resistant cells with sorafenib, an inhibitor of C-RAF, B-RAF, c-KIT, FLT-3, RET, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3, and PDGFR-β. Sorafenib reduced the activation of MEK and MAPK and caused an inhibition of cell proliferation, invasion, migration, anchorage-independent growth in vitro and of tumor growth in vivo of all TKI-resistant CALU-3 and HCT116 cell lines.These data suggest that resistance to EGFR inhibitors is predominantly driven by the RAS/RAF/MAPK pathway and can be overcame by treatment with sorafenib.

Background: Following the discovery that mutant KRAS is associated with resistance to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibodies, the tumours of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer are now profiled for seven KRAS mutations before receiving cetuximab or panitumumab. However, most patients with KRAS wild-type tumours still do not respond. We studied the effect of other downstream mutations on the efficacy of cetuximab in, to our knowledge, the largest cohort to date of patients with chemotherapy-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer treated with cetuximab plus chemotherapy in the pre-KRAS selection era., Methods: 1022 tumour DNA samples (73 from fresh-frozen and 949 from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue) from patients treated with cetuximab between 2001 and 2008 were gathered from 11 centres in seven European countries. 773 primary tumour samples had sufficient quality DNA and were included in mutation frequency analyses; mass spectrometry genotyping of tumour samples for KRAS, BRAF, NRAS, and PIK3CA was done centrally. We analysed objective response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival in molecularly defined subgroups of the 649 chemotherapy-refractory patients treated with cetuximab plus chemotherapy., Findings: 40.0% (299/747) of the tumours harboured a KRAS mutation, 14.5% (108/743) harboured a PIK3CA mutation (of which 68.5% [74/108] were located in exon 9 and 20.4% [22/108] in exon 20), 4.7% (36/761) harboured a BRAF mutation, and 2.6% (17/644) harboured an NRAS mutation. KRAS mutants did not derive benefit compared with wild types, with a response rate of 6.7% (17/253) versus 35.8% (126/352; odds ratio [OR] 0.13, 95% CI 0.07-0.22; p<0.0001), a median PFS of 12 weeks versus 24 weeks (hazard ratio [HR] 1.98, 1.66-2.36; p<0.0001), and a median overall survival of 32 weeks versus 50 weeks (1.75, 1.47-2.09; p<0.0001). In KRAS wild types, carriers of BRAF and NRAS mutations had a significantly lower response rate than did BRAF and NRAS wild types, with a response rate of 8.3% (2/24) in carriers of BRAF mutations versus 38.0% in BRAF wild types (124/326; OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.02-0.51; p=0.0012); and 7.7% (1/13) in carriers of NRAS mutations versus 38.1% in NRAS wild types (110/289; OR 0.14, 0.007-0.70; p=0.013). PIK3CA exon 9 mutations had no effect, whereas exon 20 mutations were associated with a worse outcome compared with wild types, with a response rate of 0.0% (0/9) versus 36.8% (121/329; OR 0.00, 0.00-0.89; p=0.029), a median PFS of 11.5 weeks versus 24 weeks (HR 2.52, 1.33-4.78; p=0.013), and a median overall survival of 34 weeks versus 51 weeks (3.29, 1.60-6.74; p=0.0057). Multivariate analysis and conditional inference trees confirmed that, if KRAS is not mutated, assessing BRAF, NRAS, and PIK3CA exon 20 mutations (in that order) gives additional information about outcome. Objective response rates in our series were 24.4% in the unselected population, 36.3% in the KRAS wild-type selected population, and 41.2% in the KRAS, BRAF, NRAS, and PIK3CA exon 20 wild-type population., Interpretation: While confirming the negative effect of KRAS mutations on outcome after cetuximab, we show that BRAF, NRAS, and PIK3CA exon 20 mutations are significantly associated with a low response rate. Objective response rates could be improved by additional genotyping of BRAF, NRAS, and PIK3CA exon 20 mutations in a KRAS wild-type population., Funding: Belgian Federation against Cancer (Stichting tegen Kanker)., (2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Targeted agents have become an integral part of the treatment of a number of malignant diseases and regimens containing agents that disrupt the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway are now considered a standard therapeutic approach for a range of tumor types. Recently, the mutational status of the KRAS gene in tumors was shown to be predictive of outcome to treatment with EGFR-targeted therapies in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The immoglobulin (Ig) G1 EGFR-targeting monoclonal antibody (mAb), cetuximab, has been shown to provide significant clinical benefits when added to standard irinotecan- and oxaliplatin-containing chemotherapy regimens, first-line, in patients with KRAS wild-type mCRC. Its effects on tumor response and resectability of metastases make cetuximab a particularly useful treatment option for patients with bulky or initially unresectable disease. With an ever-increasing array of management options available, it is important that patients with mCRC receive the treatment that offers them the best chance of prolonged survival. In view of this, testing for tumor KRAS mutation status should be mandatory at diagnosis of mCRC, prior to treatment decision-making.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor involved in the proliferation and survival of cancer cells. EGFR is the first molecular target against which monoclonal antibodies (mAb) have been developed for cancer therapy. Here we review the mechanisms underlying the effects of EGFR-specific mAb in cancer therapy. The efficacy of EGFR-specific mAb in cancer occurs thanks to inhibition of EGFR-generated signalling; furthermore, the effects of antibodies on the immune system seem to play an important role in determining the overall anti-tumour response. In this review, attention is focused on cetuximab and panitumumab, two mAb introduced recently into clinical practice for treatment of metastatic colorectal and head and neck cancer which target the external part of EGFR.

The effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) ligands and cediranib on tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion was determined. It has recently been suggested that autocrine signaling through the VEGF receptor (VEGFR) pathway may play a role in tumor cell survival, invasion, and migration. The purpose of the present study was to determine the expression of VEGFRs and VEGFR ligands in a panel of gastrointestinal carcinoma cells. Additionally, we evaluated the effects of VEGF autocrine signaling on tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion utilizing cediranib (AZD2171), a pan-VEGFR inhibitor. Five colorectal, three pancreatic, and two hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines were screened for VEGFR and VEGF expression by several methods. Expression of VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-3 was cell line-dependent, whereas VEGFR-2 was not detected. Secretion of VEGF-A was detected in the supernatants of all cell lines whereas VEGF-C secretion was detected in the Panc-1, MiaPaca2, and Hep1 cells only. Tumor cells showed increased migratory activity, but not proliferation, when stimulated with VEGFs. The pan-VEGFR inhibitor cediranib (100 nmol/L) inhibited tumor cell migration and invasion, with no effects on proliferation. Cediranib decreased VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-3 phosphorylation as well as activation of downstream effectors. VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-3 expression was detected in all the gastrointestinal carcinoma cells evaluated. Although activation of the VEGF pathway did not affect cell proliferation, our data indicate that this pathway seems to play a role in tumor cell migration and invasion in these cell lines. Therefore, inhibition of VEGFR by cediranib may represent a clinically relevant treatment option for gastrointestinal tumors.