Researchers from the Center for Cancer Research (CCR) at the Medical University of Vienna have contributed to this anniversary issue with a review highlighting the diverse functions of EGFR signalling in tissue biology and disease. The review is led by Maria Sibilia as senior author, with Thomas Bauer and Martin Holcmann as contributors.
EGFR is best known for its role in regulating cell growth, proliferation and differentiation, especially in cancer. However, research over the past decades has shown that its biological functions extend far beyond these classical roles. EGFR signalling is closely linked to tissue homeostasis, inflammation and immune responses and can influence how tissues respond to injury and disease.
The CCR has made important contributions to understanding these complex functions of EGFR. The review in Philosophical Transactions B brings together current knowledge on how EGFR signalling interacts with other cellular pathways and with the immune system, highlighting its relevance not only to cancer but also to the maintenance and repair of healthy tissues.
The anniversary issue illustrates how the understanding of EGFR has evolved from a focus on a single growth factor receptor into a much broader view of interconnected signalling networks that regulate tissue function and disease. This knowledge is also increasingly important for understanding the effects of therapies that target EGFR and related pathways.
With its special issue, Philosophical Transactions B provides an opportunity to reflect on four decades of EGFR research while highlighting the many unanswered questions that continue to drive research in this field.
The CCR contribution underlines the continued importance of EGFR research for understanding the complex relationship between tissue signalling, inflammation and disease.