title: Growth factor content in normal and benign ovarian tumours.
abstract: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) content was measured in normal ovaries and benign ovarian tumours. Epidermal growth factor was present in 12.7% of normal ovaries, with a range 0.030-0.533 ng/mg DNA, and in 31.8% of benign ovarian tumours, with a range 0.1335-2.080 ng/ml DNA. TGF alpha was present in 84.5% of normal ovaries, with a range of values from 0.037-18.2 ng/mg DNA, and in 84.1% of benign ovarian tumours, with a range of 0.083-195 ng/mg DNA. The TGF alpha content in post menopausal benign ovarian tumours was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) than TGF alpha in the pre-menopausal normal ovarian group. The frequency of detection and levels of TGF alpha measured were significantly higher than those of EGF in the normal ovary group (P < 0.001) and also in the benign ovarian group (P < 0.005). We conclude that TGF alpha is the predominant growth factor present in normal ovaries and benign ovarian tumours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Glasgow University, UK.
authors.forename: O J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Leake
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D010053:Ovary / Q000737:chemistry*; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor