Description
As a member of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family, EGFR protein is type I transmembrane glycoprotein that binds a subset of EGF family ligands including EGF, amphiregulin, TGF-α, betacellulin, etc. EGFR protein plays a crucial role in signaling pathway in the regulation of cell proliferation, survival and differentiation. Binding of a ligand induces EGFR protein homo- or heterodimerization, the subsequent tyrosine autophosphorylation and initiates various down stream pathways (MAPK, PI3K/PKB and STAT). In addition, EGFR signaling also has been shown to exert action on carcinogenesis and disease progression, and thus EGFR protein is proposed as a target for cancer therapy currently.