title: Quantitative analysis of TGF-alpha and EGFR mRNA in laryngeal carcinoma tissues.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To elucidate the stimulating role of the growth factor autocrine loop in the carcinogenesis and development of laryngeal carcinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction technique was applied, and with beta-actin as internal standard, TGF-alpha and EGFR mRNA in laryngeal carcinomas, macroscopically normal laryngeal mucosas adjacent to the tumor and in vocal cord polyps were quantitatively examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mRNA index of both TGF-alpha and EGFR in laryngeal carcinomas and adjacent mucosas was significantly higher than those in vocal cord polyps (P < 0.05). The index of TGF-alpha mRNA was significantly higher in laryngeal carcinomas than in mucosas adjacent to the tumor (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The autocrine system consisting of TGF-alpha and EGFR may play an important role in the very early stage of laryngeal carcinoma, or even when the tissue phenotypic alteration does not occur. The elevated TGF-alpha mRNA level may trigger a switch from genotypic alteration to the phenotypic. The results are expected to be a theoretical basis for the preventive chemotherapy of laryngeal carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Medical University, Hangzhou 310009, China.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D066246:ErbB Receptors