Expression of transforming growth factor-α and epidermal growth factor receptor in gastrointestinal stromal tumours

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Abstract
Activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is associated with cell growth and transformation. Both transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) and epidermal growth factor bind to and activate EGFR. We studied the expression of TGF-α and two EGFRs (HER-1 and HER-2) in gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) of the stomach (n=9) and small intestine (n=6) using standard immunostaining techniques in paraffin-embedded sections. Most GISTs expressed TGF-α, and a few expressed HER-1. All HER-1-positive tumours expressed TGF-α. These results suggest that a TGF-α/EGFR autocrine loop is present in GIST and that TGF-α promotes proliferation of GIST tumour cells through its interaction with HER-1 in at least some GISTs. This is the first description of an autocrine loop in GIST. In contrast, HER-2 is not expressed in any GIST.

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