Question

Explain how mutations in EGFR and other MAPK components can lead to cancers.

Answer 1

​​​​​​Ans. EGFR is found on the surface of some noraml cells and involved in cell growth . It may also be found at high level on some types of cancer cell, which cause these cell grow and divide . Blocking EGFR may keep cancer cells from growing . Some EGFR inhibitors are used to treat cancer.

EGFR mutation refers to a mutation ( demage) to the portion of the Dna in a lung cancer cell which carries the recipe for making EGFR ( epidermal growth factor receptor ) proteins . The nucleus of each of our cell contains our Dna , which in turn is made up of genes . When there are too many receptor caused by mutation , as happen in cancer, cell continue to grow and divide . 15% of patients with non small cell lung cancer have mutation to the EGFR .

MAPK pathway is a chain of protein in the cell that communicates a signal from a receptor on the surface of the cell to Dna in the nucleus of the cell . The mitogen activated protein kinase ( MAPK) pathway play a role in the regulation of gene expression , cellular growth , and survival . Abnormal MApk signalling may lead to increased or uncontrolled cell proliferation and resistance to Apoptosis