REVIEW: ERBB Oncogene Proteins as Targets for Monoclonal Antibodies

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O. L. Polanovski¹, E. N. Lebedenko², and S. M. Deyev^2,3*

¹Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Vavilova 32, 119991 Moscow, Russia

²Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia; fax: (495) 335-7103; E-mail: deyev@ibch.ru

³Nizhny Novgorod State Medical Academy, pl. Minina i Pozharskogo 10/1, 603005 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received November 14, 2011

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General properties of the family of tyrosine kinase ERBB receptors are considered in connection with their role in the generation of cascades of signal transduction in normal and tumor cells. Causes of acquisition of oncogene features by genes encoding these receptors and their role in tumorigenesis are analyzed. Anti-ERBB monoclonal antibodies approved for therapy are described in detail, and mechanisms of their antitumor activity and development of resistance to them are reviewed. The existing and the most promising strategies for creating and using monoclonal antibodies and their derivatives for therapy of cancer are discussed.

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KEY WORDS: EGFR, HER2/neu, receptor tyrosine kinases ERBB1-4, signaling cascades, Herceptin

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297912030029

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