Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has a profound effect on the differentiation of specific cells in vivo and is a potent mitogenic factor for a variety of cultured cells. The EGF precursor is believed to exist as a membrane-bound molecule which is proteolytically cleaved to generate the 53-amino acid peptide hormone that stimulates cells to divide. EGF exerts its actions by binding to the EGFR, a 170 kDa protein. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a key growth factor regulating cell survival. Through its binding to cell surface receptors, EGF activates an extensive network of signal transduction pathways that include activation of the PI3K/AKT, RAS/ERK and JAK/STAT pathways. Because of its key role in driving the proliferation of cells, EGFR is a target of several anti-cancer drugs currently in development.Synonyms: Epidermal growth factor, HOMG4, Pro-epidermal growth factor, URG, Urogastrone