Introduction: Cancer is a devastating disease; however, several therapeutic advances have recently been made, wherein EGFR and its family members have emerged as useful biomarkers and therapeutic t...

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and women in the US and worldwide.^1,2 Non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents approximately 84% of all lung cancers, whereas small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) represents approximately 13%.¹ Historically, NSCLC has had a poor prognosis, particularly in later stages.³ However, treatment has changed markedly in the past decade with wider lung cancer screening, improved radiation techniques, and treatment advances.^4,5 These changes have likely resulted in the reported decline in NSCLC mortality.⁶ Because treatment and prognosis differ by stage, updated epidemiological estimates by stage are of interest.

Purpose: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in women. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is frequently prescribed to postmenopausal women, but there is little data on its effect on lung cancer. Hence, we conducted a retrospective study to examine the impact of HRT on the natural history of lung cancer. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of women diagnosed with lung cancer between January 1994 and December 1999. Data collected included age, stage, past history of cancer, smoking history, family history of cancer, HRT use, treatment, and overall survival. The effects of various clinical features on survival were examined using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Results: Four hundred ninety-eight women (median age, 67 years; range, 31 to 93 years) with lung cancer were included. A history of smoking was present in 429 women (86%), whereas 86 women (17%) had taken HRT. Women with lung cancer who received HRT were younger than women with lung cancer who never received HRT (63 v 68 years old, respectively; P < .0001). Overall survival was significantly higher in patients with no HRT compared with patients who received HRT (79 v 39 months, respectively; hazard ratio = 1.97; 95% CI, 1.14 to 3.39). This effect seemed to be more pronounced in women with a smoking history. Conclusion: HRT may affect outcomes from lung cancer adversely. Further studies examining the role of HRT use on outcomes from lung cancer, especially in women with a history of smoking, are urgently needed to clarify this important problem.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is frequently amplified, overexpressed, and mutated in multiple cancers. In normal cell physiology, EGFR signaling controls cellular differentiation, proliferation, growth, and survival. During tumorigenesis, mutations in EGFR lead to increased kinase activity supporting survival, uncontrolled proliferation, and migratory functions of cancer cells. Molecular agents targeting the EGFR pathway have been discovered, and their efficacy has been demonstrated in clinical trials. To date, 14 EGFR-targeted agents have been approved for cancer treatments. This review describes the newly identified pathways in EGFR signaling, the evolution of novel EGFR-acquired and innate resistance mechanisms, mutations, and adverse side effects of EGFR signaling inhibitors. Subsequently, the latest EGFR/panEGFR inhibitors in preclinical and clinical studies have been summarized. Finally, the consequences of combining immune checkpoint inhibitors and EGFR inhibitors have also been discussed. As new mutations are threatened against EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), we suggest the development of new compounds targeting specific mutations without inducing new mutations. We discuss potential future research on developing EGFR-TKIs specific for exact allosteric sites to overcome acquired resistance and reduce adverse events. The rising trend of EGFR inhibitors in the pharma market and their economic impact on real-world clinical practice are discussed.