Fig. 3
From: Emerging strategies to overcome resistance to third-generation EGFR inhibitors
Molecular mechanisms of acquired resistance. The mechanisms include target gene modification, parallel alternative pathway activation, downstream pathway activation, and histological/phenotypic transformation. Both amplification and mutation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) can induce downstream survival signaling pathways. Moreover, direct overexpression and/or mutation of components of downstream pathways can contribute to acquired resistance by promoting cancer cell survival