Targeting ligand-activated ErbB2 signaling inhibits breast and prostate tumor growth.

ErbB2 is a ligand-less member of the ErbB receptor family that functions as a coreceptor with EGFR, ErbB3, and ErbB4. Here, we describe an approach to target ErbB2's role as a coreceptor using a monoclonal antibody, 2C4, which sterically hinders ErbB2's recruitment into ErbB ligand complexes. Inhibition of ligand-dependent ErbB2 signaling by 2C4 occurs in both low- and high-ErbB2-expressing systems. Since the ErbB3 receptor contains an inactive tyrosine kinase domain, 2C4 is very effective in blocking heregulin-mediated ErbB3-ErbB2 signaling. We demonstrate that the in vitro and in vivo growth of several breast and prostate tumor models is inhibited by 2C4 treatment.