EGF/ErbB Receptor Family in Ovarian Cancer

摘要: The EGF/ErbB receptor family is comprised of four members: ErbB1, ErbB2, ErbB3 and ErbB4 (Fig. 1). human EGF (i.e., EGFR/ErbB1) the prototype in this family, distinguished by its ability to interact with a large number polypeptide growth factors high affinity 2). two most widely studied members ligand are epidermal factor (EGF) transforming factor-alpha (TGF-α). Overexpression ErbB 1 results ligand-dependent, anchorage independent primary cells culture (1–4). Although causative link between pertur bation expression EGFR cancers has not yet been established, gene amplification rearrangements have reported variety carcinomas, including breast ovarian cancer. molecular biology biochemistry extensively. encoding isolated characterized, promoter region mapped, several transcripts identified normal tissues (5–10). Furthermore, biochemical characterization pioneering field hormone research. In 1980, Stanley Cohen his colleagues demonstrated, for first time, that expressed intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity (11). Numerous studies since contributed our current understanding biosynthesis, post-translational processing, cellular trafficking receptor, these reviewed (12–14).