Epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), also known as ErbB2, NEU, and CD340, is a type I membrane glycoprotein, and belongs to the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor family. HER2 protein cannot bind growth factors due to the lacking of ligand binding domain of its own and autoinhibited constitutively. However, HER2 forms a heterodimer with other ligand-bound EGF receptor family members, therefore stabilizes ligand binding and enhances kinase-mediated activation of downstream molecules. HER2 plays a key role in development, cell proliferation and differentiation. HER2 gene has been reported to associate with malignancy and a poor prognosis in numerous carcinomas, including breast, prostate, ovarian, lung cancers and so on.
