TGF-alpha causes tumor cells to become independent from EGF

[Hopeful]

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=60664

Hopeful

[Lani]

that lapatinib would be very useful preventing access to the EGFR of TGF alpha

whether or not one would also need to block her3 to prevent her3/egfr heterodimerization I can't figure out yet without reviewing which are the preferred ligands for which her family members and whether the effect requires steric hindrance (taking up of room so the ligand can't get access to the receptor)

May be another reason to eagerly await the FDA approval of lapatinib