title: Interaction between erbB-receptors and heregulin in breast cancer tumor progression and drug resistance.
abstract: The type I growth factor receptor family is increasingly recognized as important in the development and maintenance of breast cancer. The family currently consists of four closely related members: the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R/erbB-1), erbB-2, erbB-3 and erbB-4. Putative ligands which bind directly to or indirectly activate erbB-2/3/4 have been characterized recently. This still growing family of EGF-related growth factors includes gp30, its homolog heregulin (HRG), the rat homolog neu differentiation factor (NDF), glial growth factors (GLIA), ARIA and a 50 kDa factor from COLO 16 cells. The understanding of the function, biology and interactions of these growth factor receptors and their ligands will have far-reaching implications for the prognosis and treatment of breast cancer. This review focuses on advances and future directions for further investigations intended to clarify the mechanism and significance of erbB/ligand interactions in breast cancer.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004347:Drug Interactions; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000502:physiology*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3
chemical_list: D066246:ErbB Receptors; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3