PHILADELPHIA - Many types of tumors grow because of over-expression or a mutation of a protein called the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), normally regulated by a hormone-like peptide called the epidermal growth factor (EGF). Several cancer drugs, including Herceptin, Erbitux, Iressa and Tarceva fight tumors by blocking EGFR and related receptors, notes Mark A. Lemmon, PhD, Professor and Chair of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. 

Click here to view the full release.