The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a receptor tyrosine kinase of the ErbB family
that is abnormally activated in many epithelial tumors. Several mechanisms lead to the
receptor's aberrant activation that is observed in cancer, including receptor overexpression,
mutation, ligand-dependent receptor dimerization, and ligand-independent activation. Two
classes of anti-EGFR agents are currently approved for the treatment of patients with cancer:
cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody directed at the extracellular domain of the receptor, and …