Transforming growth factors and related peptides in gastrointestinal neoplasia

Transforming growth factor α and β 1 (TGFα and TGFα 1 ) are representative members of two distinct and expanding families of polypeptide grwoth factors TGFα is an epithelial cell mitogen, whereas TGFβ 1 inhibits epithelial cell growth; the role of these factors in contributing to the transofrmed phenotype is uncertain. Steady state mRNA expression for these growth factors and their receptors in a panel of human colon cancers and adjacent normal mucosa is presented. Based in part on results from transgenic mice in which TGFα is selectively overproduced in the mammary gland, a possible role for TGFα as a tumor promoter in the process of transformation is discussed. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.