EREG and colitis: Molecular pathophysiological mechanisms of colitis-associated cancer are unclear; however, in a mouse model, the epiregulin/ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) pathway appears to be particularly relevant for inflammation-associated colorectal carcinomas because mucosal inflammation results in marked production of potent epiregulin stimulators such as TNF-alpha and LPS (lipopolysaccharide-microbial proteins and pro-inflammatory molecules) [28].