How to organize a good review paper

It is not easy to write a review paper. You read many articles related to your research's topic, but your memory is limited. In spite of many recording and saving methods, the best way is to write a review paper about your topic. Let us analyze how to structure a good review paper.

How to organize a review paper

In this post, I will use the EGFR family as an example. Since we are going to write about a single gene, it is good idea to write about that gene in detail. Here is how I structured my title and sub-titles:

 

1. Introduction

2. Structure and Function of EGFR Family Members

3. Ligands and Downstream Signaling Pathways

4. Dysregulation of EGFR Family in Cancer

5. Therapeutic Targeting of EGFR Family Members

6. Challenges and Future Directions

7. Conclusion

 

Shortly, I decide to choose "EGFR family" as a title. Let us write out what we are going to put in each of the seven sections above.

What you want to write in each section

1. Introduction

• Provide a brief overview of the EGFR family, their biological significance, and their role in cellular processes and cancer development.

2. Structure and Function of EGFR Family Members

• Discuss the structure of each family member (EGFR, ErbB2, ErbB3, ErbB4), including their extracellular ligand-binding domains, transmembrane domains and intercellular kinase domains.
• Describe the process of receptor dimerization, activation, and downstream siganling.

3. Ligands and Downstream Signaling Pathways

• Provide an overview of the various ligands that bind to EGFR family members and their role in receptor activation.
• Discuss the key downstream siganling pathways activated by EGFR family members, such as the MAPK, PI3K/AKT, and JAK/STAT pathways.

4. Dyregulation of EGFR Family in Cancer

• Describe how the dysregulation of EGFR family members, through overexpression or mutation, contributes to the development and progression of various cancers.
• Discuss specific examples of cancers where EGFR family dysregulation is implicated, including non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

5. Therapeutic Targeting of EGFR Family Members

• Introduce the concept of targeted therapies for cancer and the rationale for targeting EGFR family members.
• Discuss the different types of drugs developed to target EGFR family members, such as monoclonal antibodies and small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
• Present examples of approved and investigational drugs, their mechanisms of action, and their clinical efficacy and safety profiles.

6. Challenges and Future Directions

• Address the challenges of targeting EGFR family members in cancer therapy, including drug resistance, side effects, and the need for biomarkers to identify patients who would benefit from these therpies.
• Discuss ongoing research and potential future directions in understanding and targeting the EGFR family in cancer treatment.

7. Conclusion

• Summarize the main points of the review and emphasize the importance of the EGFR family in cancer biology and therapy.

Throughout the review paper, it is essential to provide proper citaions for the relevant literature and ensure a clear and concise writing style.

 

In this blog post, I explain "How to form an excellent review paper". This is very subjective. There are many ways to write a good paper. What I want to convey in this article is that the way to accurately metacognise your research topic is to write a great review paper.