Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a 53-amino-acid polypeptide that binds the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/ErbB1), a receptor tyrosine kinase whose activation triggers receptor dimerization, autophosphorylation, and downstream signaling through the RAS-RAF-MAPK and PI3K-AKT cascades to drive cell proliferati…
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a 53-amino-acid polypeptide that binds the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/ErbB1), a receptor tyrosine kinase whose activation triggers receptor dimerization, autophosphorylation, and downstream signaling through the RAS-RAF-MAPK and PI3K-AKT cascades to drive cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and survival. Physiologically, EGF and related ligands coordinate epithelial renewal, cutaneous and corneal wound repair, and tissue regeneration; dysregulated EGFR signaling is a well-characterized driver of epithelial malignancies, making the receptor and its pathway central targets for small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies. Key scientific themes surrounding EGF biology include receptor overexpression in carcinomas, ligand-mediated control of re-epithelialization, and the dermatologic and ocular effects of EGFR-directed therapy. The peer-reviewed research relevant to this area spans cutaneous wound healing and the influence of wound-fluid microenvironments on epithelial repair, the consequences of EGFR-inhibitor treatment such as erlotinib-associated trichomegaly, and growth-factor signaling in oncology contexts including breast, colon, thyroid, and uterine tumors and proteomic responses to agents such as lapatinib. Together these studies reflect the dual significance of EGF signaling in normal tissue maintenance and in the pathogenesis and targeted treatment of cancer.
12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 12 articles above have been cited 48 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Epidermal Growth Factor, linking to each citing work.