Updated Insights on EGFR Signaling Pathways in Glioma
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Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 200349 Craiova, Romania
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Department of Neurology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova and Clinical, Hospital of Neuropsychiatry, 200349 Craiova, Romania
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Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 200349 Craiova, Romania
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Department 4—Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 200349 Craiova, Romania
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Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 200349 Craiova, Romania
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Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(2), 587; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22020587
Received: 15 November 2020 / Revised: 28 December 2020 / Accepted: 5 January 2021 / Published: 8 January 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Oncogenic Signaling of Growth Factor Receptors in Cancer: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities)
Nowadays, due to recent advances in molecular biology, the pathogenesis of glioblastoma is better understood. For the newly diagnosed, the current standard of care is represented by resection followed by radiotherapy and temozolomide administration, but because median overall survival remains poor, new diagnosis and treatment strategies are needed. Due to the quick progression, even with aggressive multimodal treatment, glioblastoma remains almost incurable. It is known that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) amplification is a characteristic of the classical subtype of glioma. However, targeted therapies against this type of receptor have not yet shown a clear clinical benefit. Many factors contribute to resistance, such as ineffective blood–brain barrier penetration, heterogeneity, mutations, as well as compensatory signaling pathways. A better understanding of the EGFR signaling network, and its interrelations with other pathways, are essential to clarify the mechanisms of resistance and create better therapeutic agents.
Keywords:
glioma; pathways; EGFR; clinical trials