Treatment of lung cancer has evolved considerably over the past few years thanks to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in lung carcinogenesis, and the development of new drugs that are able to inhibit specific key signalling pathways within the cancer cell. The best illustration of this (r)evolution is the story of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR or HER1) inhibitors, which have become the cornerstone for the treatment of EGFR-mutated lung cancers. These drugs were initially thought to yield modest benefit in the overall population of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, but the discovery of EGFR mutations revealed a unique model of oncogene addiction in lung cancer associated with exquisite sensitivity to EGFR inhibition. However, many questions remain on the management and treatment of NSCLC, especially regarding EGFR and other HER family members. How should we screen for EGFR mutations? Can we use other biomarkers for predicting efficacy of HER inhibitors? Why don't all the patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC respond to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs)? How should we manage acquired resistance to EGFR TKIs?
This book provides key data for discussing and answering these questions and has gathered together more than 30 experts in lung cancer biology and treatment, most of them belonging to the Spanish Lung Cancer Group which has sponsored important studies in this field. The book is divided into eight parts including: an overview on epidemiology; biology of lung cancer with a focus on deregulation of HER receptors; laboratory processes regarding HER-related biomarkers; timing for biomarker testing; treatment with HER inhibitors; resistance to HER inhibitors; perspectives in the treatment of lung cancer; and a brief overview on the use of HER inhibitors in other malignancies.
Overall, this book provides comprehensive information on the current knowledge of HER receptor biology and its role in the genesis and treatment of lung cancer. Some chapters have attracted particular interest. The chapter dedicated to the techniques for detection of EGFR mutations is well detailed which will be useful for clinicians struggling to understanding how all these techniques work, although it would have been interesting to discuss new technologies further, such as the detection of EGFR mutations in circulating DNA. The chapter on the management of resistance to EGFR TKIs is also very well documented and provides all the molecular and clinical data on this hot topic, which represents the next big challenge, i.e. fighting resistance to EGFR inhibitors. Finally, the chapters dealing with other malignancies such as breast cancer, head and neck cancer or cancers of the digestive tract increase our understanding of the role of HER receptors in cancer and open new perspectives for the treatment of lung cancer. Thus, this book will serve as a valuable tool for juniors and experienced clinicians and researchers seeking a comprehensive review on HER receptors in lung cancer.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015.
