Clinical significance of EGF and EGFR expression changes in cryptorchid boys.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the changes of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expressions in cryptorchid children and their clinical significance.


METHODS
The level of serum EGF was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and the expression of EGFR by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
(1) The level of serum EGF was significantly lower in cryptorchid children than in normal subjects at age group of 5-9 years (P<0.01) and 10-14 years (P<0.01), (2) The level of EGF was significantly lower in boys with impalpable testis than in those with extracanalicular and intracanalicular testes (P<0.01), (3) The serum EGF level increased significantly 6 months after orchiopexy (P<0.05), (4) The EGFR expression in testicular Leydig's cells was lower in 2 approximately 4 year-old boys than in those over 5 years (P<0.05) and (5) the EGFR expression was less positive in the impalpable group and the intracanalicular group than that of the extracanalicular group (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The EGF and EGFR expressions may correlate with the age and the position of testes; orchiopexy improves the EGF and EGFR expressions in cryptorchid boys.
Yang
Guo-Sheng
GS
Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China. ywy2008@163.com
Lu
Ren-Kang
RK
Chen
Zhao-Dian
ZD
D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male
D015415:Biomarkers; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors