Transforming growth factor-alpha and human cancer.
Human transforming growth factor-alpha TGF-alpha, a polypeptide growth factor which causes reversible transformation of normal cells, is composed of 50 amino acid residues, has a 30 to 40% amino acid homology to epidermal growth factor (EGF), and binds the EGF receptor. In human cancers, studies are beginning to show that TGF-alpha could serve as a tumor marker and as a marker for the malignant potential of a tumor. Thus far, the types of carcinomas with which abnormal TGF-alpha expression has been associated include liver, gastrointestinal, breast, skin, lung, brain and ovarian cancers. TGF-alpha may play a role in the processes involved with tumor initiation and tumor growth. In cell lines, TGF-alpha has been found to be associated with autocrine and paracrine types of cellular growth initiation and with increased levels of oncogene expression. In summary, the evidence concerning human TGF-alpha are that TGF-alpha could serve as a marker for human cancers and that an understanding of the basic actions of TGF-alpha could help to explain the self-sustaining nature of tumors.
Yeh
J
J
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115.
Yeh
Y C
YC
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D015291:Transforming Growth Factors