Amphiregulin in Fibrotic Diseases and Cancer

Fibrotic disorders pose a significant global health burden due to limited treatment options, creating an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies. Amphiregulin (AREG), a low-affinity ligand for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), has emerged as a key mediator of fibrogenesis through dual signaling pathways. Unlike high-affinity EGFR ligands, AREG induces sustained signaling that activates downstream effectors and promotes integrin-mediated activation of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. This enables both EGFR-dependent and -independent mechanisms that contribute to fibrosis. Elevated AREG expression correlates with disease severity across multiple organs, including the lungs, kidneys, liver, and heart. Therapeutic targeting of AREG has shown promising antifibrotic and anticancer effects, suggesting a dual-benefit strategy. Increasing recognition of the shared mechanisms between fibrosis and cancer further supports the development of unified treatment approaches. Inhibition of AREG has been shown to sensitize fibrotic tumor microenvironments to chemotherapy, enhancing combination therapy efficacy. Targeted therapies, such as Self-Assembled-Micelle inhibitory RNA (SAMiRNA)-AREG, have demonstrated enhanced specificity and favorable safety profiles in preclinical studies and early clinical trials. Personalized treatment based on AREG expression may improve clinical outcomes, establishing AREG as a promising precision medicine target for both fibrotic and malignant diseases.