Table 2 Summary of the selected clinical experiences with different agents targeting Receptor Tyrosine Kinases in ESCC
Study | Type of the study | Number of patients | Indication | Primary outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
i. EGFR-targeting agents: | ||||
Dutton et al. (2014) | Phase III | Total number: 450 patients ESCC: 106 | Gefitinib for esophageal cancer progressing after chemotherapy | The use of gefitinib as a second-line treatment in esophageal cancer in unselected patients does not improve overall survival (for all patients as well as for both histology subgroups). |
Ilson et al. (2011) | Phase II | Total number: 30 patients ESCC: 13. | Erlotinib in patients with previously treated squamous cell and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus | Overall, erlotinib had limited activity in patients with esophageal cancer with some responses observed in ESCC. |
Rodriguez et al. (2010) | Phase II | Total number: 173 ESCC: 19 | Perioperative concurrent chemotherapy, gefitinib, and hyperfractionated radiation followed by maintenance gefitinib in locoregionally advanced esophagus and gastroesophageal junction cancer. | Gefitinib did not worsen CCRT toxicity; maintenance gefitinib proved difficult. |
Zhai et al. (2013) | Phase II (pilot study) | 18 patients | Concurrent erlotinib and radiotherapy for chemoradiotherapy-intolerant ESCC patients | For ESCC patients who cannot tolerate chemoradiotherapy, concurrent erlotinib and radiotherapy were tolerable and effective. |
Huang et al. (2016) | Phase II | 281 patients | Icotinib in Patients with Pretreated Advanced ESCC with EGFR overexpression or EGFR Gene Amplification | Overall, icotinib showed favorable activity in patients with advanced, previously treated ESCC with EGFR overexpression or amplification (in terms of response rate, overall survival and progression-free survival). |
Janmmat et al. (2006) | Phase II | Total number: 36 patients ESCC: 9 | Gefitinib in second-line treatment of advanced esophageal cancer patients | Overall, gefitinib has a modest activity in second-line treatment of advanced esophageal cancer. However, the patient outcome was significantly better in female patients and in patients demonstrating high EGFR expression or ESCC histology. |
ii. VEGF/VEGFR-targeting agents: | ||||
Janjigan et al. (2015) | Phase II | Total number: 35 patients ESCC: 5 patients | Sorafenib in chemotherapy-refractory esophageal carcinoma | For all patients: 8 week Kaplan-Meier estimated progression-free survival (PFS) was 61% (90% CI 45 to 73%). Median PFS was 3.6 months (95% CI 1.8 to 3.9 months), with median overall survival OS 9.7 months (95% CI 5.9 to 11.6 months). |
Horgan et al. (2016) | Phase II | Total number: 61 patients ESCC: 12 patients | Adjuvant sunitinib following chemoradiotherapy and surgery for locally advanced esophageal cancer | For all patients: median survival was 26Â months with a 2 and 3-year survival rate of 52% and 35%. |