top of page
< Back

Erlotinib


Mechanism of action:

Erlotinib is an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor. When epidermal growth factor binds to the epidermal growth factor receptor, it activates multiple downstream signaling pathways, such as PI3K-AKT-mTOR, RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK, and JAK-STAT, which stimulate cell proliferation and survival. Erlotinib inhibits the tyrosine kinase activity domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor, blocking signal transduction and reducing tumor cell growth and survival signaling, thereby causing cell cycle arrest, increased apoptosis, and decreased proliferative capacity.

Reference(s):

1. Raymond E et al. (2000). Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase as a target for anticancer therapy. Drugs. 


2. Li Z et al. (2007). Erlotinib effectively inhibits JAK2V617F activity and polycythemia vera cell growth. J Biol Chem.

bottom of page