Type 1 growth factor receptors: an overview of recent developments

At present, four distinct members of the type 1 growth factor receptor family have been identified and the aberrant expression of three of these receptors is associated with various carcinomas. The involvement of the fourth and most recently identified member has not been determined yet. The purpose of this article is to review the latest developments concerning this family of growth factor receptors rather than an exhaustive overview and for this reason the main emphasis is placed upon c-erbB3 and c-erbB4 and their associated ligands.