EGFR-targeting therapy as an evolving concept: Learning from nimotuzumab clinical development

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted therapies have been extensively evaluated in the clinic for different tumor localizations and using different EGFR-targeting products, either registered or still in clinical development. Nonetheless, there still is a long way to go to optimize the clinical benefit from EGFR-targeted therapies. In this article we briefly discuss on current paradigms guiding the use of EGFR-targeting agents in the clinic, and on new emergent concepts. The discussion is largely based on experiences from the clinical development of the monoclonal antibody nimotuzumab, which has shown a quite particular clinical profile, characterized by a very low toxicity. In order to optimize the design of EGFR-targeting therapies, clinical researchers should take into account the interconnection between the EGFR pathway and other cellular pathways. Thus, clinical trials need to incorporate more translational research.