ISSN:
1432-1440
Keywords:
Epidermal growth factor
;
EGF
;
Transforming growth factor
;
EGF-receptor
;
Carcinogenesis
;
Colon
;
Rectum
;
Colonic adenoma
;
Colonic carcinoma
;
Familial polyposis coli
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary The epidermal growth factor (EGF) and alpha-tumor growth factor are mitogenic proteins which bind to the EGF-receptor and may play a role in carcinogenesis or tumor progression. Our study investigated whether colorectal carcinomas and adenomas express altered levels of EGF-receptors or overproduce EGF-like activity by comparing histologically normal mucosa to carcinomas resected from the same patients. EGF-receptors were characterized by radioligand binding studies. Carcinomas contained unchanged or decreased levels of EGF-receptors in 13/16 and moderately increased levels in 3/16 patients as compared to normal mucosa. Adenomas obtained from 2 patients with familial polyposis coli and from a third patient with a coincident carcinoma had similar numbers of EGF-receptors as normal mucosa. EGF-like growth factors, in contrast, were significantly elevated in carcinoma extracts as compared to extracts from normal mucosa of the same patients. Adenomas did not contain elevated levels of EGF-like activity. We conclude that increased expression of EGF-receptors is infrequent in colonic adenocarcinomas. Increased production of EGF-like growth factors may frequently occur but seems to be associated with tumor progression rather than with premalignant lesions as represented by adenomas.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01719776
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