title: The role of the epidermal growth factor receptor in breast cancer.
abstract: Recent trials of drug therapy targeting the erbB receptor HER2 have met with success in breast cancer. The epidermal growth factor receptor or EGFR is a closely related receptor from this same family that is involved in cellular signal transduction and tumor cell growth and survival. Emerging evidence indicates that EGFR is implicated in the development of hormone-resistant breast cancer, and that its activity is intertwined with estrogen receptor. Here, the role of EGFR in breast cancer is reviewed, and data from selected clinical trials of signal transduction inhibition of this cellular target are summarized.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Biology Laboratory, Research School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NJ, UK.
authors.forename: Samuel K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Gullick
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D005260:Female; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D000077156:Gefitinib; D011799:Quinazolines; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases