title: Synthesis of messenger RNAs for transforming growth factors alpha and beta and the epidermal growth factor receptor by human tumors.
abstract: Human tumors and tumor cell lines were analyzed for the presence of mRNA coding for transforming growth factors alpha and beta (TGF-alpha and -beta) and the epidermal growth factor receptor. TGF-alpha mRNA was not detectable in hematopoietic tumor cell lines but was found in a variety of solid tumor cells, particularly carcinomas. Many of the tumors that contained TGF-alpha mRNA also expressed high levels of epidermal growth factor receptor mRNA. The concentration of TGF-alpha in the media of several tumor cell lines did not necessarily correlate with TGF-alpha mRNA levels, as a substantial fraction of TGF-alpha can remain cell associated. The levels of TGF-beta mRNA in tumor cell lines and tumor specimens were variable, but higher in tumors than in the adjacent normal tissues.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Derynck
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Goeddel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ullrich
authors.forename: J U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Gutterman
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Bringman
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D012016:Reference Values; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors; D066246:ErbB Receptors