EGFR-TK inhibition before radiotherapy reduces tumour volume but does not improve local control: differential response of cancer stem cells and nontumourigenic cells?
EGFR-TK inhibition with BIBX1382BS over 14days between macroscopically complete tumour resection or tumour transplantation and start of radiotherapy significantly reduced tumour volume but did not improve local tumour control. One possible explanation is that the EGFR-TK inhibitor has a higher activity in nontumourigenic cancer cells compared to cancer stem cells. This hypothesis, along with the observation that tumours of similar size were significantly more radiosensitive after surgery than without surgery, warrants further investigation.
Antenatal steroid therapy appears to be an independent risk factor for the development of asthma between 36 and 72 months of age. Further research into the smallest possible steroid dose required to achieve the desired post-natal effect is needed to reduce the risk of developing childhood asthma.