The type 1 (EGFR-related) family of growth factor receptors and their ligands

Prog Growth Factor Res. 1992;4(1):1-24. doi: 10.1016/0955-2235(92)90002-y.

Abstract

This review considers the biology of the type 1 growth factor receptor family which is increasingly recognised as important in the control of normal cell proliferation and in the pathogenesis of human cancer. The family currently comprises three closely related members: the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, c-erbB-2 and c-erbB-3, all of which show abnormalities of expression in various human tumours. The family of factors related to EGF has also expanded recently and now includes transforming growth factor alpha, heparin-binding EGF, amphiregulin, cripto and heregulin, as well as several other potential ligands for the c-erbB2-2 receptor. The involvement of these receptors and growth factors in human cancer has implications for the design of novel forms of therapy for cancer, and we review recent advances and future avenues for investigation.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amphiregulin
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Caenorhabditis / genetics
  • Consensus Sequence
  • Drosophila / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins*
  • EGF Family of Proteins
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / genetics
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / metabolism
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics*
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Growth Substances / classification*
  • Growth Substances / genetics
  • Growth Substances / metabolism
  • Heparin / genetics
  • Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins*
  • Ligands
  • Mammals / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Multigene Family*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogenes
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Receptor, ErbB-3
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transforming Growth Factor alpha / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • AREG protein, human
  • Amphiregulin
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • EGF Family of Proteins
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • Glycoproteins
  • Growth Substances
  • HBEGF protein, human
  • Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Ligands
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • TDGF1 protein, human
  • Transforming Growth Factor alpha
  • Viral Proteins
  • Epidermal Growth Factor
  • Heparin
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Receptor, ErbB-3