The Potential of EGFR-Targeted Agents in Cancer Prevention

Abstract

The prevention of cancer and its recurrence in high-risk individuals has become an increasingly realistic goal with the introduction of targeted therapies. Like other therapies intended to prevent morbidity and mortality in populations at risk, such as lipid-lowering agents and antihypertensives, cancer-prevention agents are intended for use in generally healthy individuals, and therefore must be well-tolerated. Other challenges associated with the use of agents in cancer prevention, rather than treatment, include the identification of an appropriate dose (the optimal biological dose for advanced disease may not be the optimal dose for early disease or for use in chemoprevention); similarly, the most appropriate schedule and form of administration must be determined. For example, preclinical models of lung cancer chemoprevention suggest that the use of inhaled formulations of retinoids may reduce the systemic side effects associated with chronic oral administration (1).