ErbB family Blockade and Afatinib Infographic

01.05.2011

Afatinib^*, a Boehringer Ingelheim investigational compound, is an irreversible blocker of the ErbB-Family.¹

How does ErbB-Family signalling work?
Signals from receptors of the ErbB-Family inform cells to perform normal cell functions such as multiply or differentiate as shown below with the ErbB1 receptor.²

Disregulated activation of ErbB-signalling in cancer cells
Cancer cells can mutate and/or amplify and therefore dysregulate normal signalling processes leading to an abnormal continuous signaling, resulting in a higher rate of cell division and tumour growth.³

ErbB-Family receptors are frequently overexpressed on cancer cell surfaces. Overexpression of ErbB-Family receptors such as EGFR and HER2 have been associated with a variety of tumour types and is associated with poor prognosis and advanced-stage cancer.^2-4

Mode of action of afatinib* - targeting the ErbB-Family¹
Since ErbB Family signalling can be initiated by a variety of homo- and heterodimers, an irreversible inhibition of all ErbB Family members may provide a more successful blockade of the signalling pathway.

1. BI Data on File.
2. Hynes NE, et al. Nat Rev Cancer 2005;5:341-54.
3. Hanahan D, Weinberg RA. Cell. 2000;100(1):57-70.
4. Normanno N, et al. Cur Drug Targets 2005;6(3):243-47.