An internal ribosome entry site in the 5' untranslated region of epidermal growth factor receptor allows hypoxic expression.

ABSTRACT: The expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/ERBB1/HER1) is implicated in the progress of numerous cancers, a feature that has been exploited in the development of EGFR antibodies and EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors as anti-cancer drugs. However, EGFR also has important normal cellular functions, leading to serious side effects when EGFR is inhibited. One damaging characteristic of many oncogenes is the ability to be expressed in the hypoxic conditions associated with the tumour interior. It has previously been demonstrated that expression of EGFR is maintained in hypoxic conditions via an unknown mechanism of translational control, despite global translation rates generally being attenuated under hypoxic conditions. In this report, we demonstrate that the human EGFR 5' untrans

SUBMITTER: Webb TE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4275558 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature