Normal, healthy cells use molecular pathways to control cell functions. The HER family of cell membrane receptors are important regulators of cell growth, especially the HER2 receptor. It exists in an open conformation that allows other activated HER receptors to dimerize with a high affinity. The dimer activates downstream cytoplasmic signaling pathways that translocate to the nucleus. These pathways impact genes associated with cell cycle progression and growth. HER2 is overexpressed on some cancer cells, sometimes producing up to 100-fold the normal number of receptors. This results in a significant increase in signalling derived from the HER receptors, deregulation of the HER-associated pathways linked to cell survival, and uncontrolled proliferation in a cancerous manner.
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