title: Transforming growth factor alpha and epidermal growth factor levels in bladder cancer and their relationship to epidermal growth factor receptor.
abstract: We have examined levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) in neoplastic and non-neoplastic bladder tissue using a standard radioimmunoassay technique. Tumour samples had much higher TGF-alpha levels compared with EGF and TGF-alpha levels in malignant tissue were significantly higher than in benign bladder samples. There was, in addition, a difference in mean EGF levels from 'normal' bladder samples from non-tumour bearing areas of bladder in patients with bladder cancer compared with 'normal' bladder tissue obtained at the time of organ retrieval surgery. Levels of EGF and TGF-alpha did not correlate with levels of EGF receptor (EGFR) as determined by a radioligand binding method but levels of TGF-alpha > 10 ng gm-1 of tumour tissue did correlate with EGFR positivity defined using immunohistochemistry. These data suggest that TGF-alpha is the likely ligand for EGFR in bladder tumours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Mellon
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Neal
mesh_terms: D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000032:analysis*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors