Biochemical and Clinical Implications of the ErbB/HER Signaling Network of Growth Factor Receptors

摘要: Carcinoma, cancer of epithelial cells, is a major cause morbidity and mortality in Western societies. Clonal fixation propagation oncogenic genetic changes, sporadically accumulating depend on growth factors their surface receptors. One the large families receptors that ErbB tyrosine kinases, which bind multiple neuregulins other epidermal factor-like molecules. Certain members ligands are involved human cancers various origins. However, most clinical data relate to ErbB-2, protein whose overexpression subsets carcinomas can predict poor prognosis. Although no ligand has so far been assigned recent biochemical evidence implies this oncoprotein operates as shared receptor subunit ErbBs. Several attributes enable ErbB-2 act an cell amplifier stroma-derived factor signals: It delays dissociation, enhances coupling mitogen-activated kinase pathway, impedes rate downregulation. The realization master regulator signaling network drives proliferation identifies target for therapy. Indeed, ErbB-2-directed therapeutic approaches, including immunological therapies, demonstrate promising potential.