In human colon cancer cell lines and organoids of normal human colonic primary cells, inhibiting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) increased the expression of hBD-1, whilst activating EGFR through the MAPK kinase 1/2 (MEKK1/2)-ERK1/2 pathway had the opposite effect [109]. The gene discussed is DEFB1; the disease is malignant colon neoplasm.