EGF-Related Peptides in the Pathophysiology of the Mammary Gland
EGF-Related Peptides in the Pathophysiology of the Mammary Gland
复制标题
DOI：
10.1023/a:1026351730785
复制
发表时间：
1997-04-01
影响因子：
2.5
通讯作者：
Ciardiello, Fortunato
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Normanno, Nicola;Ciardiello, Fortunato
Normal mammary gland development is the result of complex interactions between a number of hormones and growth factors. Normal and malignant human mammary epithelial cells are able to synthesize and to respond to various different, locally acting growth factors and growth inhibitors. Among these, the EGF-related peptides play an important role in regulating the proliferation and differentiation of human mammary epithelial cells. EGF(4) and TGF alpha are able to stimulate the lobulo-alveolar development of the mammary gland in vivo as well they are involved in the pathogenesis of human breast cancer. Experimental evidence suggests that estrogen-induced proliferation of breast carcinoma cells is mediated in part by EGF-related growth factors. It has also been demonstrated that activation of certain cellular protooncogenes such as c-Ha-ras in human mammary epithelial cells results in cellular transformation and in an increased production of several EGF-related growth factors such as TGF alpha and amphiregulin. Coexpression of both EGF-related peptides and their own receptors frequently occurs in human breast carcinomas and in human breast cancer cell lines, suggesting that an autocrine pathway of uncontrolled cell growth sustains neoplastic transformation.
