Clinical trials of selective small-molecule inhibitors of epidermal growth factor receptor
tyrosine kinase activity have shown that these targeted inhibitors of proliferative signal
transduction provide well-tolerated antitumour activity in patients. Preclinical pharmacology
studies illustrate the potential use of these new cancer therapeutics in combination with
chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapy, and in chemoprevention, in a spectrum
of solid human tumours.