EGFR is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is a member of a family of protein tyrosine kinases crucial in maintaining a normal balance in cell growth and development. A prototype member of the type 1 receptor tyrosine kinases, EGFR is encoded by the cellular oncogene cerbB1. EGFR has an extracellular ligand binding domain, a single transmembrane region, and cytoplasmic domain which is composed of a tyrosine kinase domain and a carboxy terminal domain. The carboxy terminal domain contains at least four tyrosine autophosphorylation sites. Increased production or activation of EGFR has been associated with poor prognosis in a variety of tumors. EGFR overexpression is observed in tumors of the head and neck, brain, bladder, stomach, breast, lung, endometrium, cervix, vulva, ovary, esophagus, stomach and in squamous cell carcinoma.1) Aifa, S., et al., Exp. Cell Res. 302(1):108-114 (2005).
					
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