EGFR

Official symbol

EGFR

Official full name

Epidermal growth factor receptor

Gene ID

1956

Gene type

-

Other name

ERBB, ERBB1, HER1, NISBD2, PIG61, mENA

Gene location

Gene introduction

The protein encoded by this gene is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is a member of the protein kinase superfamily. This protein is a receptor for members of the epidermal growth factor family. EGFR is a cell surface protein that binds to epidermal growth factor. Binding of the protein to a ligand induces receptor dimerization and tyrosine autophosphorylation and leads to cell proliferation. Mutations in this gene are associated with lung cancer.

Cancer pathway

The main pathways: Schematic of EGFR signaling pathway. Growth factor binding to EGFR results in activation of the MAPK signaling pathway (RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK) and the PI3K pathway (PI3K-AKT-mTOR). The letter "K" within the schema denotes the tyrosine kinase domain.

Related to cancer

Mutations that lead to EGFR overexpression (known as upregulation)/amplification have been associated with a number of cancers, including squamous-cell carcinoma of the lung (80% of cases), anal cancers, glioblastoma (50%) and epithelian tumors of the head and neck (80-100%). These somatic mutations involving EGFR lead to its constant activation, which produces uncontrolled cell division. In glioblastoma a more or less specific mutation of EGFR, called EGFRvIII is often observed. Mutations, amplifications or misregulations of EGFR or family members are implicated in about 30% of all epithelial cancers.

Alteration in cancer

Related drugs in cancer