HER2 is a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor family comprising EGFR/ErbB1, HER2/ErbB2, HER3/ErbB3, and HER4/ErbB4. EGF receptor family proteins encode for transmembrane receptors consisting of the extracellular ligand binding, lipophilic transmembrane, and cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase domains. Ligand binding to EGF receptors activates their hetero- or homodimerization whereby one EGF receptor will phosphorylate the other on a tyrosine, allowing cytoplasmic signaling complexes to bind to the EGFR dimer.