EGF

Chr 4

epidermal growth factor

Also known as: HOMG4, URG

This gene encodes a member of the epidermal growth factor superfamily. The encoded preproprotein is proteolytically processed to generate the 53-amino acid epidermal growth factor peptide. This protein acts a potent mitogenic factor that plays an important role in the growth, proliferation and differentiation of numerous cell types. This protein acts by binding with high affinity to the cell surface receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor. Defects in this gene are the cause of hypomagnesemia type 4. Dysregulation of this gene has been associated with the growth and progression of certain cancers. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants, at least one of which encodes a preproprotein that is proteolytically processed. [provided by RefSeq, Jan 2016]

GeneReviewsResearchGenerating clinical summary…
MultiplemechanismLOEUF 0.74
Clinical SummaryEGF
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Gene-Disease Validity (ClinGen)
renal hypomagnesemia 4 · ARLimited

Limited evidence — not for standalone diagnostic reporting

Population Constraint (gnomAD)
Low constraint (pLI 0.00) — loss-of-function variants are relatively tolerated in the population.
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ClinVar Variants
3 unique Pathogenic / Likely Pathogenic· 334 VUS of 664 total submissions
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Clinical Trials
12 active or recruiting trials — potential therapeutic options may be available
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GeneReview available — EGF
Authoritative clinical overview · Recommended first read
Open GeneReview ↗
Some data sources returned errors (1)

omim: Error: OMIM fetch failed: 429

Population Genetics & Constraint

gnomAD v4 — loss-of-function & missense intolerance

Tolerant — LoF & missense variants common in population
LoF Constraint?
0.74LOEUF
pLI 0.000
Z-score 3.29
OE 0.56 (0.430.74)
Tolerant

Typical tolerance to LoF variation

Missense Constraint?
0.94Z-score
OE missense 0.90 (0.830.96)
571 obs / 637.7 exp
Tolerant

Mild missense constraint

Observed / Expected Ratios?
LoF OE?0.56 (0.430.74)
00.351.4
Missense OE?0.90 (0.830.96)
00.61.4
Synonymous OE?1.07
01.21.6
LoF obs/exp: 37 / 65.8Missense obs/exp: 571 / 637.7Syn Z: -0.78

This gene — mechanism propensity

DN
0.79top 25%
GOF
0.83top 10%
LOF
0.3065th %ile

This gene has evidence for multiple mechanisms of pathogenicity (gain-of-function and dominant-negative). Both the Badonyi & Marsh prediction and the broader genomic evidence point to gain-of-function as the predominant mechanism. Different variants in this gene may act through different mechanisms — interpret in context of the specific variant.

GOFprediction above median
DNprediction above median

Note: In-silico variant effect predictors (SIFT, PolyPhen, REVEL, CADD) may underestimate pathogenicity of missense variants in genes with GOF or DN mechanisms. Consider functional evidence and clinical context.

Predictions from Badonyi M, Marsh JA. PLoS ONE. 2024;19(8):e0307312.

ClinVar Variant Classifications

664 submitted variants in ClinVar

Classification Summary

Pathogenic1
Likely Pathogenic2
VUS334
Likely Benign172
Benign119
Conflicting25
1
Pathogenic
2
Likely Pathogenic
334
VUS
172
Likely Benign
119
Benign
25
Conflicting

Curated Variants Distribution

Classified variants from ClinVar · 5 ACMG categories

ClassificationLoFMissense + InframeNon-codingSynonymousTotal
Pathogenic
0
1
0
0
1
Likely Pathogenic
2
0
0
0
2
VUS
24
247
57
6
334
Likely Benign
1
17
84
70
172
Benign
2
8
104
5
119
Conflicting
25
Total2927324581653

LoF = frameshift, stop gained/lost, canonical splice · Counts from ClinVar esearch · Updated hourly

View in ClinVar →

13 pathogenic / likely-pathogenic (of 20) ClinVar copy-number / structural variants overlap EGF — these span large chromosomal regions, not the gene specifically, and are excluded from the counts above. Explore in CNV tools →

Protein Context — Lollipop Plot

EGF · protein map & ClinVar variants

Showing all ClinVar variants across the protein. Search a specific variant to highlight its position.

Clinical Trials

Active and recruiting trials from ClinicalTrials.gov

Advanced Solid Tumors

Safety of Recombinant Human IL-21-expressing Oncolytic Vaccinia Virus Injection (hV01) in Advanced Tumors

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING
NCT05914376Phase PHASE1Hangzhou Converd Co., Ltd.Started 2023-07-05
Recombinant human IL-21-expressing oncolytic vaccinia virus injection
Breast Cancer

Identification of HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Molecular Characterization and Subtypes

NOT YET RECRUITING
NCT07187752Phase NAShandong Cancer Hospital and InstituteStarted 2025-09-30
TrastuzumabPertuzumabChemotherapy
Advanced Breast Cancer

Timing of ctDNA Testing in HR+/HER2- Advanced Breast Cancer

RECRUITING
NCT07681323Geneplus-Beijing Co. Ltd.Started 2026-07-08
Bladder CancerHead and Neck Squamous Cell CarcinomaCancer of the Salivary Gland

Binary Oncolytic Adenovirus in Combination With HER2-Specific Autologous CAR VST, Advanced HER2 Positive Solid Tumors

RECRUITING
NCT03740256Phase PHASE1Baylor College of MedicineStarted 2020-12-14
CAdVEC
Non-small Cell Lung Cancer NSCLC

Study of Durvalumab+Olaparib or Durvalumab After Treatment With Durvalumab and Chemotherapy in Patients With Lung Cancer (ORION)

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING
NCT03775486Phase PHASE2AstraZenecaStarted 2018-12-21
DurvalumabPlacebo for OlaparibOlaparib
Solid Tumor, Adult

Patritumab Deruxtecan in Patients With Solid Tumor Harboring an NRG1 Fusion

RECRUITING
NCT06383884Phase PHASE2Samsung Medical CenterStarted 2024-08-13
Patritumab Deruxtecan
Primary Breast CancerRecurrent/Metastatic Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Proteomics and Molecular Heterogeneity

RECRUITING
NCT01840293Cancer Trials IrelandStarted 2013-02
Metastatic Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

A Study to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of Dato-DXd With or Without Osimertinib Compared With Platinum Based Doublet Chemotherapy in Participants With EGFR-Mutated Locally Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

RECRUITING
NCT06417814Phase PHASE3AstraZenecaStarted 2024-10-04
Dato-DXdOsimertinibPemetrexed
HER2 Mutation-Related TumorsHER2HER2-positive Breast Cancer

A Phase 1/1b Study of IAM1363 in HER2 Cancers

RECRUITING
NCT06253871Phase PHASE1Iambic Therapeutics, IncStarted 2024-03-25
IAM1363
Carcinoma, Non-Small Cell Lung

Quaratusugene Ozeplasmid (Reqorsa) and Osimertinib in Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer Who Progressed on Osimertinib

RECRUITING
NCT04486833Phase PHASE1, PHASE2Genprex, Inc.Started 2021-09-03
quaratusugene ozeplasmidosimertinibPlatinum-Based Chemotherapy
Non Small Cell Lung Cancer

A Study to Assess the Efficacy of WSD0922-FU in Patients With C797S+ Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

RECRUITING
NCT06868485Phase PHASE2Wayshine Biopharm, Inc.Started 2025-08-18
WSD0922-FU Tablets, Dose level AWSD0922-FU Tablets, Dose level B
Lung Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell CarcinomaStage IB Lung Non-Small Cell Carcinoma AJCC v7Stage II Lung Non-Small Cell Cancer AJCC v7

Erlotinib Hydrochloride in Treating Patients With Stage IB-IIIA Non-small Cell Lung Cancer That Has Been Completely Removed by Surgery (An ALCHEMIST Treatment Trial)

ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING
NCT02193282Phase PHASE3National Cancer Institute (NCI)Started 2015-02-11
Clinical ObservationErlotinib HydrochlorideLaboratory Biomarker Analysis