title: HER-2/neu signal transduction in human breast and ovarian cancer.
abstract: The HER-2/neu proto-oncogene encodes a 185 kDa transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase with significant sequence homology to other members of the class I receptor tyrosine kinase family. The HER-2/neu gene is amplified and/or overexpressed in 25%-30% of human breast and ovarian cancers, and overexpression of the receptor is associated with poor prognosis. Tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of the HER-2 receptor lead to activation of specific signal transduction pathways in breast and ovarian cancer cells, including the ras/MAP kinase cascade, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and phospholipase C-gamma. HER-2/neu signal transduction pathways ultimately converge on the cell nucleus, where the expression of diverse genes is induced after activation of the receptor. A more complete understanding of HER-2/neu signal transduction pathways may allow the development of specific therapeutics for the treatment of those human breast and ovarian cancers containing this alteration.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Reese
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Slamon
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human