ABSTRACT
I. ABSTRACT The ErbB family of receptors have an important role to play in the development of human breast cancer. There are four members of this receptor tyrosine kinase family that are selectively activated in various homo-and heterodimer combinations by a large family of peptides known as the epidermal growth factor (EGF)–related peptides. ErbB1 and ErbB2, in particular, have been extensively analyzed in human breast carcinomas, as they are often constitutively activated either by autocrine production of ligands or for ErbB2, in particular, by overexpression. The ErbB family of receptors and their ligands have been intensely studied in the past to understand their role in breast cancer malignancy and as potential targets for breast cancer therapy. More recently, ErbB receptors are coming under scrutiny for their potential roles in the development of endocrine resistance.
