Epidermal growth factor receptors in breast cancer: from experiment to clinical practice

The role of auto-paracrine regulation of cell proliferation in breast cancer is analyzed. Experimental data indicate that the epidermal growth factor receptor is the key transmitter of mitogenic signals from the polypeptide growth factors and participates in the formation of sensitivity and/or resistance of breast cancer cells to steroid hormones. Data of representative clinical studies indicate that the expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor is prognostically unfavorable in breast cancer. Screening of patients with breast tumors for this receptor will detect the high-risk group at early stages of the disease. A scheme of the screening is proposed. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 126, No. 11, pp. 485–496, November, 1998