Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 25, 2026

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells
06:54

Studying TGF-β Signaling and TGF-β-induced Epithelial-to-mesenchymal Transition in Breast Cancer and Normal Cells

Published on: October 27, 2020

Signaling through the epidermal growth factor receptor during the development of malignancy

Jennifer Rubin Grandis1, John C Sok

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. jgrandis@pitt.edu

Pharmacology & Therapeutics
|April 2, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is often overexpressed in cancers, driving tumor growth. Targeting EGFR shows promise but often requires combination therapies for effective cancer treatment and prevention.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is frequently overexpressed and activated in various human cancers.
  • Elevated EGFR levels correlate with poorer patient survival, establishing it as a key therapeutic target.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of EGFR signaling in the development of cancer.
  • To discuss the rationale and strategies for inhibiting EGFR in cancer prevention and treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on EGFR signaling in carcinogenesis.
  • Analysis of clinical trial data for EGFR inhibitors as monotherapy and in combination treatments.

Main Results:

  • EGFR overexpression is a common feature in many malignancies.
  • EGFR inhibitors as monotherapy have shown limited efficacy in eradicating established tumors.
  • Combination strategies involving EGFR inhibitors with chemotherapy, radiation, or for cancer prevention are being explored.

Conclusions:

  • EGFR signaling is a critical driver in carcinogenesis.
  • Targeting EGFR is a key strategy in cancer therapy and prevention.
  • Combination approaches are essential for maximizing the clinical benefit of EGFR inhibition.

More Related Videos

Deciphering the Structural Effects of Activating EGFR Somatic Mutations with Molecular Dynamics Simulation15:05

Deciphering the Structural Effects of Activating EGFR Somatic Mutations with Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Published on: May 20, 2020

Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition10:37

Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition

Published on: August 27, 2013

Related Concept Videos

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal01:22

Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal

Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma receptor (Eph) and its ligand, Eph receptor-interacting protein (Ephrin) were first discovered in the human carcinoma cell line, hence the name. Ephrin-Eph interaction guides cells to reach their appropriate location in adult tissues. They also play an essential role in the immune system by helping in immune cell migration, adhesion, and activation. Based on their structure and function, Eph is divided into two classes — EphA and EphB.
Autocrine Signaling01:01

Autocrine Signaling

Autocrine signaling is one of the many signaling mechanisms that function inside multicellular organisms to carry out intercellular communication. In this type of signaling mechanism, the same cell that secretes an extracellular signaling molecule also expresses the receptors to bind and respond to that signaling molecule.
Autocrine Signaling in Macrophages
Under normal physiological conditions, autocrine signaling is essential for maintaining homeostasis. This process is well characterized in...
Receptor Downregulation in MVBs01:15

Receptor Downregulation in MVBs

Multivesicular bodies (MVBs) are mature endosomes that sort ubiquitinated proteins and then fuse with lysosomes to degrade the sorted proteins. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) form a complex that can be internalized through endocytosis, sorted into an MVB, and later degraded.
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that  lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR  stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive  EGFR activation may...