Bergler W, Petroianu G, Juncker C, Hörmann K
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine Mannheim, Germany.
Acta Otolaryngol. 1996 May;116(3):486-9. doi: 10.3109/00016489609137877.
Previous studies have shown increasing evidence that TGF-alpha, a ligand for the often overexpressed EGF-receptor may be important for the oncogenesis and autocrine stimulation of the proliferation in head and neck cancers. The occurrence of TGF-alpha and its relation to the EGF-receptor still remain unclear. Twenty six specimens (primaries and metastasis) of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas were investigated for the presence of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and the EGF-receptor using a tissue extraction method and a "sandwich" immuno absorbent assay. In 77% of the specimens we found TGF-alpha, all had a significant amount of EGF-receptors, no EGF was found. No significant difference was noted for metastasis and primaries. No correlation was seen to the TNM stage and to the histological grading. There was an inverse statistical correlation between the TGF-alpha and the EGF-receptor concentration. High TGF-alpha concentrations were associated with low EGF-receptor concentration. Interestingly, even high TGF-alpha concentrations showed a lower limit of EGF-receptor concentrations which could not be passed. The present investigation gives a quantitative determination of the EGF-receptors and TGF-alpha in oropharyngeal carcinomas. The results indicate that a EGF-receptor/TGF-alpha complex could be functionally important for autocrine/paracrine stimulation.
以往的研究越来越多地表明，转化生长因子α（TGF-α）作为常过度表达的表皮生长因子受体（EGF受体）的配体，可能对头颈部肿瘤的发生及增殖的自分泌刺激起重要作用。TGF-α的存在及其与EGF受体的关系仍不清楚。采用组织提取法和“夹心”免疫吸附测定法，对26例口咽鳞状细胞癌标本（原发灶和转移灶）进行了转化生长因子α（TGF-α）、表皮生长因子（EGF）和EGF受体检测。在77%的标本中发现了TGF-α，所有标本都有大量的EGF受体，未发现EGF。转移灶和原发灶之间未观察到显著差异。未发现与TNM分期和组织学分级相关。TGF-α与EGF受体浓度之间存在负相关。高TGF-α浓度与低EGF受体浓度相关。有趣的是，即使是高TGF-α浓度也显示出EGF受体浓度有一个无法突破的下限。本研究对口咽癌中的EGF受体和TGF-α进行了定量测定。结果表明，EGF受体/TGF-α复合物可能对自分泌/旁分泌刺激具有重要功能。
