Bronchial and head and neck (HN) cancers share similarities especially regarding 
the HER pathway. Therapeutic progresses targeting the HER pathway are based on 
monoclonal antibodies, especially cetuximab, and tyrosine kinase (TK) 
inhibitors, targeting HER only, as gefitinib and erlotinib, or HER and other 
receptor(s), as VEGFR for the ZD6474. The results obtained already led to the 
registration of cetuximab (combined with radiotherapy) for management of locally 
advanced HN cancers, and the registration of erlotinib (and gefitinib in some 
countries) for management of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the second or 
third line setting. Therefore, these first successes led to the development of 
several drugs including monoclonal antibodies (trastuzumab, panitumumab, 
matuzumab), TK inhibitors targeting one receptor as well as TK pan-inhibitors 
(lapatinib, HKI 272, PKI 166, EKB-569, AEE-788), currently assessed through 
clinical trials worldwide. In the same time, progresses regarding the HER 
pathway also focused on a better selection of patients who clearly beneficiate 
from these drugs (EGFR gene mutations, EGFR gene amplification by FISH) allowing 
the first steps in tailoring anticancer treatments in lung cancer. In 
conclusion, therapeutic progresses targeting the HER pathway have improve 
management of HN and NSCLC patients and rise hopes for the future.