Effects of environmental physical and chemical agents on epidermal growth factor receptor and its signal transduction / 浙江大学学报·医学版

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a classic protein tyrosine kinase receptor, which plays an important role in cell proliferation, survival, adhesion, differentiation and apoptosis. Abnormality of EGFR and its signaling are closely associated with tumor initiation and development. Many environmental physical and chemical agents can interfere with EGFR and its signal transduction pathways via affecting its phosphorylation, conformation and function, or distribution on cell membrane, finally influencing gene expression and cell fate. This review focuses on the recent progress of above aspects for further understanding of epigenetic mechanisms of cellular stress and carcinogenesis related with environmental agents.