Description
EGF Receptor (EGFR, ErbB1) is a transmembrane protein that exerts tyrosine kinase activity upon ligand induced activation. Those ligands include EGF, TGF-alpha, HB-EGF, BTC, Amphiregulin, Epiregulin, and Epigen (1). When the intrinsic kinase is activated, EGFR tyrosyl-phosphorylates itself and numerous intermediary effector molecules, including closely-related c-erbB receptor family members. This initiates a signaling cascade which includes dimerization and internalization, tyrosine phosphorylation, DNA synthesis of target genes, and cell proliferation (2). In addition to being implicated in organ morphogenesis, maintenance and repair, upregulated EGFR signaling has been correlated in a wide variety of tumors with progression to invasion and metastasis. Thus, EGFR and its downstream signaling molecules are targets for therapeutic interventions in wound repair and cancer (3)