The role of growth factors in malignancy: a focus on the epidermal growth factor receptor.

Objectives: To review the role of growth factors in the development of malignancy with a focus on the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathways. The clinical significance and prognostic implications of EGFR expression in malignancy will be discussed in addition to screening methods used for detection of EGFR expression.

Data Sources: Research articles and textbooks.

Conclusions: Growth factors and their receptors play an important role in the development and progression of malignancy. The association between the EGFR pathway and malignancy is well defined and many agents that block the EGFR pathways are in clinical testing.

Implications For Nursing Practice: Knowledge about the role of growth factors in malignancy has increased greatly over the past few decades. Many new biological agents targeted at growth factor pathways are in the late stages of clinical testing and are likely to be approved and available soon. It is imperative that nurses understand the underlying growth factor biology and the mechanisms by which targeted biological agents exert their antitumor effects, and be able to apply these principles in clinical practice.