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Epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor-α, and epidermal growth factor receptor content in normal and carcinomatous gastric and colonic tissue

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Summary

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) are polypeptides which bind to the EGF receptor (EGFr) and may play a role in cell growth and carcinogenesis. Our study investigated the content of EGF, TGF-α, and EGFr in tumors of the stomach and the colon in comparison with the sourrounding mucosa. EGF was detected in half of the stomach specimens with concentrations between 1 and 9 ng/g weight irrespective of histology. In the colon no EGF was found in the tumor or normal mucosa. In the stomach normal mucosa contained higher TGF-α concentrations (mean 22.4 ng/g) than the tumors (mean 11.8 ng/g), but the difference was not statistically significant because of a wide variation in mucosal values. By contrast, the colon mucosa displayed significantly higher TGF-α concentrations than the tumor tissues (33 ng/g versus 12 ng/g; P < 0.01). EGFr content in the gastric mucosa was lower compared to gastric carcinoma (48 fmol/g versus 75 fmol/g) yet not significantly different. In contrast, colorectal tumor specimens disclosed significantly higher concentrations than the mucosal tissues (mean of 155 fmol/g versus 80 fmol/g; P < 0.01). In conclusion, TGF-α should not be considered a tumorigenic but a physiological growth factor in the stomach and colon. An elevated EGFr content in colorectal tumors in comparison with the normal mucosa could lead to a growth advantage by an autostimulating mechanism.

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Abbreviations

EGF:

epidermal growth factor

EGFr:

epidermal growth factor receptor

TGF-α:

transforming growth factor α

ROC:

receiver operating characteristic

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medizinische Klinik II, Klinikum Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München, Germany

    P. Borlinghaus, S. Wieser &  R. Lamerz

  2. Medizinische Klinik II, Klinikum Großhadern, Marchioninistrasse 15, D-81366, München, Germany

    R. Lamerz

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  1. P. Borlinghaus
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  2. S. Wieser
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  3. R. Lamerz
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Dedicated to Prof. Dr. G. Paumgartner on the occasion of his 60th birthday

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Borlinghaus, P., Wieser, S. & Lamerz, R. Epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor-α, and epidermal growth factor receptor content in normal and carcinomatous gastric and colonic tissue. Clin Investig 71, 903–907 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00185601

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00185601

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