Recent Advances on Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor as a Molecular Target for Breast Cancer Therapeutics

Author(s):

Swathi R. Shetty, Ragini Yeeravalli, Tanya Bera and Amitava Das*   Pages 1783 - 1792 ( 10 )

Abstract:

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), a type-I transmembrane protein with intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity, is activated by peptide growth factors such as EGF, epigen, amphiregulin, etc. EGFR plays a vital role in regulating cell growth, migration, and differentiation in various tissue-specific cancers. It has been reported to be overexpressed in lung, head, and neck, colon, brain, pancreatic, and breast cancer that triggers tumor progression and drug resistance. EGFR overexpression alters the signaling pathway and induces cell division, invasion, and cell survival. Our prior studies demonstrated that EGFR inhibition modulates chemosensitivity in breast cancer stem cells, thereby serving as a potential drug target for breast cancer mitigation. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (Lapatinib, Neratinib) and monoclonal antibodies (Trastuzumab) targeting EGFR have been developed and approved by the US FDA for clinical use against breast cancer. This review highlights the critical role of EGFR in breast cancer progression and enumerates the various approaches being undertaken to inhibit aggressive breast cancers by suppressing the downstream pathways. Furthermore, the mechanisms of action of potential molecules at various stages of drug development, as well as clinically approved drugs for breast cancer treatment, are illustrated.

Keywords:

Epidermal growth factor receptor, breast cancer stem cells, breast cancer, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates.

Affiliation:

Department of Applied Biology, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad – 500 007 TS, Department of Applied Biology, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad – 500 007 TS, Department of Applied Biology, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad – 500 007 TS, Department of Applied Biology, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Uppal Road, Tarnaka, Hyderabad – 500 007 TS

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