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EGF receptor expression, regulation, and function in breast cancer

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Summary

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression correlates with both loss of estrogen receptor (ER) and poor prognosis in breast cancer. Interestingly, in normal breast EGFR appears to be expressed more frequently than in malignant tissue, and there may be a different relationship between ER and EGFR. A variety of cellular regulators, such as EGF, TGFα, phorbol esters, and steroid hormones, are capable of altering the level of EGFR expression in breast cells. However, much work remains to be done on the mechanistic details of EGFR regulation in this disease. The significance of EGFR as an oncogene in breast cancer is compounded by its potential interactions with other oncogenes such as c-erbB-2 and c-myc. Additionally, several recent studies have placed EGFR prominently in the signal transduction pathway, demonstrating that the EGFR-ligand system may play important roles throughout the course of malignant progression in breast cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lombardi Cancer Research Center, Georgetown University, 3800 Reservoir Rd. NW, 20007, Washington DC, USA

    Susan A. Chrysogelos & Robert B. Dickson

  2. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Georgetown University, 3800 Reservoir Rd. NW, 20007, Washington DC, USA

    Susan A. Chrysogelos

  3. Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Georgetown University, 3800 Reservoir Rd. NW, 20007, Washington DC, USA

    Robert B. Dickson

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  1. Susan A. Chrysogelos
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  2. Robert B. Dickson
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Chrysogelos, S.A., Dickson, R.B. EGF receptor expression, regulation, and function in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Tr 29, 29–40 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00666179

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