Epidermal growth factor receptor

In biochemistry, epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2, HER-2, HER2/neu) is a cell surface receptor that is a "involved in regulation of cell growth and differentiation. It is specific for epidermal growth factor and EGF related peptides including transforming growth factor alpha, amphiregulin, and heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor. The binding of ligand to the receptor causes activation of its intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity and rapid internalization of the receptor-ligand complex into the cell.."

Cetuximab (IMC-C225) is a recombinant, human/mouse chimeric monoclonal antibody that binds to EGFR and may treat head and neck cancers, colorectal cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer in patients who do not have mutations in the KRAS gene.