Role in Tumor Cell Survival
EGFR is a cell membrane receptor1
In healthy cells, EGFR plays an integral role in multiple biological processes, including proliferation, gene expression, survival, and apoptosis.1
At diagnosis: sensitizing EGFR mutations
Mutations in EGFR may lead to increased signaling1,2
EGFR activity may be dysregulated through various mechanisms, including sensitizing mutations that affect tyrosine kinase activity and lead to constitutive activation.1,2
Targeted therapies can inhibit EGFR signaling1
Inhibiting EGFR may slow tumor cell growth.1
Upon disease progression: EGFR resistance mutations
Patients treated with 1st- or 2nd-generation EGFR-TKIs may develop resistance mutations.3
Resistance via an acquired mutation is the most common mechanism of progression3
Acquired drug resistance may be initiated by clones with mutations that confer a survival advantage under the selective pressure of an EGFR-TKI.3
EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor; NSCLC, non–small cell lung cancer; TKI, tyrosine kinase inhibitor.
References: 1. Baselga J. Oncologist. 2002;7(suppl 4):2-8. 2. Sharma SV et al. Nat Rev Cancer. 2007;7(3):169-181. 3. Sacher AG et al. Cancer. 2014;120(15):2289-2298.