METHOD FOR TREATING TUMORS RESISTANT TO ANTI-EGFR THERAPIES USING AN EGFR ANTIBODY CONJUGATE WITH CYTOTOXIC AGENT

摘要

1. A method of inhibiting the growth of a receptor for epidermal growth factor (EGFR) -expressing tumor cells that are resistant or difficult to treat using EGFR therapy, which comprises bringing said tumor cells into contact with an effective amount of an immunoconjugate antibody with EGFR.2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said therapy comprises administering an anti-EGFR antibody. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the therapy comprising administering an anti-EGFR antibody is selected from the group consisting of: cetuximab, panitumumab, zalutumumab, nekitumumab and nimotuzumab. The method of claim 1, wherein said therapy comprises administering an EGFR.5 kinase inhibitor. The method of claim 4, wherein said therapy comprises administering an EGFR kinase inhibitor selected from the group consisting of: erlotinib, gefitinib, lapatinib, and BIB2992.6. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the tumor cells: (1) contains one or more mutations in the EGFR-coding gene; (2) contains one or more mutations in the PIK3CA, RAS or PTEN coding gene; (3) has an activated cascade of MET or IGF1R reactions; (4) has mesenchymal histology or undergoes an epithelial-mesenchymal transition; or (5) has ERBB2 gene amplification or increased production of HER2.7 protein. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the mutated EGFR gene contains a mutation EGFRvIII or T790M. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one said tumor cell contains one or more mutations in the PIK3CA, RAS or PTEN encoding genes. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the cascade of MET reactions is activated