pubmed:abstractText |
ErbB receptor signaling pathways are important regulators of cell fate, and their dysregulation, through (epi)genetic alterations, plays an etiologic role in multiple cancers. ErbB ligands are synthesized as membrane-bound precursors that are cleaved by members of the ADAM family of zinc-dependent metalloproteases. This processing, termed ectodomain shedding, is essential for the functional activation of ErbB ligands. Recent studies suggest that elevated levels of ErbB ligands may circumvent the effectiveness of ErbB-targeted therapeutics. Here, we describe the discovery and preclinical development of potent, selective inhibitors of ErbB ligand shedding.
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