The ErbB receptor tyrosine kinases and their roles in cancer

The involvement of the ErbB receptor tyrosine kinases in human cancer, as well as their essential role in various physiological events during normal development, have motivated a high interest in this receptor family. Approaches taken to block the activity of ErbB receptors in cancer cells have not only proven that they drive in vitro tumor cell proliferation, but have also become clinically relevant for targeting tumors with deregulated ErbB signaling. The mechanisms and downstream effectors through which the ErbB receptors influence processes linked to malignant development, including proliferation, cell survival, angiogenesis, migration and invasion, are, however, only now becoming apparent. We are very interested in how ErbB receptors, in particular ErbB1 and ErbB2, contribute to processes linked to cancer progression. I will discuss the role of ErbB receptors in tumor cell proliferation, migration, and induction of tumor vasculature.