There are four members of the EGFR family: EGFR, erbB2, erbB3 and erbB4. These receptors form ligand-activated oligomers which regulate intracellular processes via an oligomeric tyrosine kinase scaffold. The receptors are activated when the extracellular domain undergoes a conformational change which facilitates either homo- or hetero-oligomerization with other family members. The absence of one EGFR family member leads to embryonic or early post-natal death due to implantation, central nervous system or cardiac defects. Many mouse models of defective or deficient EGFR family members are available for studying physiology and/or pathology of EGFR family members. Sophisticated antibody and kinase inhibitors which target different family members have been designed, produced. EGFR and erbB2 are frequently activated, over expressed or mutated in many common cancers and the antagonists and/or inhibitors of EGFR and/or erbB2 signalling have already been shown to have therapeutic benefits for cancer patients.

中文翻译：

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EGFR家族：结构生理信号和治疗靶标。

EGFR家族有四个成员：EGFR，erbB2，erbB3和erbB4。这些受体形成配体活化的寡聚物，其通过寡聚酪氨酸激酶支架调节细胞内过程。当胞外结构域经历构象变化时，该受体被激活，该构象变化促进与其他家族成员的同聚或异聚。由于植入，中枢神经系统或心脏缺陷，缺少一个EGFR家庭成员会导致胚胎或出生后早期死亡。EGFR家族成员有缺陷或不足的许多小鼠模型可用于研究EGFR家族成员的生理和/或病理。已经设计，生产了针对不同家族成员的复杂抗体和激酶抑制剂。EGFR和erbB2经常被激活，