EGF,EGF—R在卵巢浆液性良,恶性及交界性肿瘤中的表达

应用免疫组织学ＡＢＣ方法，检测了５２例卵巢浆液性良，恶性及交界性肿瘤中ＥＧＦ，ＥＧＦ－Ｒ的表达。结果显示；ＥＧＦ，ＥＧＦ－Ｒ在卵巢浆液性囊腺癌中分别为５０％，３７％，交界性病中６９变中分别为６２．５％，１００％。     

EGF及EGFR在胃癌及癌前组织中的表达和意义

作者采用免疫组化ＬＳＡＢ法对８２例正常胃粘膜、胃癌前病变及胃癌组织进行ＥＧＦ和ＥＧＦＲ的检测。结果：ＥＧＦ及ＥＧＦＲ在正常胃粘膜无表达；在癌前组织中阳性率分别为８．３％和４１．７％；在胃癌中表达率分别为３５．５％和４５．２％。ＥＧＦ及ＥＧＦＲ的表达与胃癌的分化程度、浸润及淋巴结转移有关；ＥＧＦ和ＥＧＦＲ在胃癌中的表达存在相关性。结果表明，ＥＧＦ－ＥＧＦＲ系统在胃癌的发生、发展中起着一定作用，两者可作为反映胃癌生物学行为的指标。     

卵巢肿瘤中EGFR,TGF—α的表达

目的为研究表皮生长因子受体（ＥＧＦＲ）、转化生长因子α（ＴＧＦ┐α）与卵巢癌发生、发展的关系。方法用原位杂交法研究了ＥＧＦＲ、ＴＧＦ┐α、ＥＧＦｍＲＮＡ在７２例卵巢肿瘤及正常卵巢组织中的表达。结果ＴＧＦ┐α在卵巢癌中的检出率为５７．８９％。在良性肿瘤、交界性肿瘤和正常卵巢组织中的检出率分别为２０．００％、３３．３３％和１６．６７％。各组与卵巢癌组间均有显著差异（Ｐ＜０．０５）。ＥＧＦＲ在上述组中的表达率分别为６５．７９％、２０．００％、３３．３３％和２５．００％，后三者与卵巢癌组间有显著差异（Ｐ＜０．０５）。ＴＧＦ┐α和ＥＧＦＲ在各期卵巢癌中的表达率分别为：Ｉ期１２．５％和５０．００％、Ⅱａ、ｂ期；７０．５９％、５８．８２％、Ⅱｃ～Ⅳ期：６９．２３％和４６．１５％，ＥＧＦ在上述各类组织中极少表达。结论ＴＧＦ┐α和ＥＧＦＲ在卵巢肿瘤中有高水平的表达，且临床分期越晚，恶性程度越高，表达率越高，提示ＴＧＦ┐α／ＥＧＦＲ自分泌系统在卵巢癌的发生发展起着重要的作用，而ＥＧＦ／ＥＧＦＲ这一系统可能不发挥作用。     

表皮生长因子受体在巢癌中的表达

目的：为研究表皮生长因子受体（ＥＧＦＲ）与卵巢癌发生发展的关系。方法：采用ＡＢＣ免疫组化、原位杂交方法研究了ＥＧＦＲ在６０例卵巢肿瘤（包括３８例卵巢癌，１０例良性卵巢肿瘤，１２例交界性卵巢肿瘤）及１２例正常卵巢组织中的表达。结果：ＥＧＦＲ在卵癌、良性卵巢肿瘤、交界性肿瘤及正交卵巢组织四组中的免疫组化检出率分别为７６．３２％、４０％、６６．６７％和４１．６７％，除交界性肿瘤组外，后三组与卵巢癌组相比     

表皮生长因子受体在卵巢癌中的表达

目的：为研究表皮生长因子受体（ＥＧＦＲ）与卵巢癌发生发展的关系。方法：采用ＡＢＣ免疫组化、原位杂交方法研究了ＥＧＦＲ在６０例卵巢肿瘤（包括３８例卵巢癌，１０例良性卵巢肿瘤，１２例交界性卵巢肿瘤）及１２例正常卵巢组织中的表达。结果：ＥＧＦＲ在卵巢癌、良性卵巢肿瘤、交界性肿瘤及正常卵巢组织四组中的免疫组化检出率分别为７６．３２％、４０％、６６．６７％和４１．６７％，除交界性肿瘤组外，后三组与卵巢癌组相比差异显著（Ｐ＜０．０５）。原位杂交结果显示ＥＧＦＲｍＲＮＡ在各组中的表达率分别为６５．７９％、２０．００％、３３．３３％和２５．００％，后三者与卵巢癌组间有显著差异（Ｐ＜０．０５）。结论：ＥＧＦＲ在卵巢癌中有较高水平的表达，表明ＥＧＦＲ在卵巢癌的发生发展中起着重要的作用。     

C－erbB－2，人表皮生长因子及其受体在大肠癌中表达的意义

用ＡＢＣ免疫组化法测定２００例大肠癌组织中Ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ－２，人表皮生长因子（ｈＥＧＦ）及其受体（ＥＧＦＲ）。结果发现：１）Ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ－２，ｈＥＧＦ，ＥＧＦＲ在２００例大肠癌中阳性表达分别为３６％、４４％、４７％，三者共同阳性为１６．５％。２）ｈＥＧＦ，ＥＧＦＲ在大肠癌ＤｕｋｅｓＣ、Ｄ期，肿瘤＞２ｃｍ、低分化腺癌，有深度浸润和淋巴结转移者阳性率显著高于其它各型（Ｐ＜０．０１）。３）Ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ－２，ｈＥＧＦ和ＥＧＦＲ阳性病例存活率明显低于这些阴性病例（Ｐ＜０．０１）。结果表明，Ｃ－ｅｒｂＢ－２，ｈＥＧＦ和ＥＧＦＲ在大肠癌的侵袭性生长中起重要作用，ｈＥＧＦ和ＥＧＦＲ可作为大肠癌患者高度恶性的生物学指标。     

乳腺癌中EGF,EGF—R,p53癌基因产物的表达及意义

应用免疫组织化学ＡＢＣ法、Ｓ－Ｐ法对６７例乳腺肿瘤进行了ＥＧＦ、ＥＧＦ－Ｒ、ｐ５３癌基因蛋白表达的研究。结果显示：ＥＧＦ表达阳性率为１７．９％，髓样癌阳性率最高（２７．２％）。ＥＧＦ－Ｒ表达阳性率为６７．１６％，单纯癌阳性率最高（６８．７５％）。ｐ５３表达阳性率为３７．３１％，单纯癌阳性率最高（５０％）。ＥＧＦ、ＥＧＦ－Ｒ、ｐ５３之间阳性表达有明显相关性，Ｐ＜０．０１，与淋巴结转移相关。两者同时过度表达和三者同时过度表达者也与淋巴结转移有关，与预后无明显差异。提示ＥＧＦ、ＥＧＦ－Ｒ、ｐ５３在乳腺肿瘤浸润、增殖及淋巴结转移中起重要作用。     

表皮生长因子受体在口腔颌面部上皮性恶性肿瘤中的表达

采用Ｓ－Ｐ免疫组化方法对３６例口腔颌面上皮性恶性肿瘤进行表皮生长因子受体（ｅｐｉｄｅｒｍａｌ ｇｒｏｗｔｈ ｆａｃｔｏｒ ｒｅｃｅｐｔｏｒ，ＥＧＦＲ）检测。结果发现，ＥＧＦＲ在口腔颌面部上皮性恶性肿瘤中的阳性率为６９．５％。具有浸润性、分化程度差、恶性程度高及伴有淋巴结转移的肿瘤，ＥＧＦＲ呈阳性表达。研究提示，ＥＧＦＲ阳性与口腔颌面上皮性恶性肿瘤的发生有一定的关系，并可作为预测肿瘤患者预后的一个指     

垂体瘤中EGF、TGF-α及其受体的表达

目的：揭示垂体瘤中生长因子的生长刺激机制,为其受体拮抗剂的治疗应用提供实验依据。方法：用免疫组织化学方法研究了３０例垂体瘤中ＥＧＦＲ及其配体ＥＧＦ、ＴＧＦ－α的表达。结果：大部分功能性腺瘤及所有非功能性腺瘤均有ＥＧＦＲ的表达,大部分腺瘤中有ＥＧＦ、ＴＧＦ－α表达,但它们的表达呈多相性,即免疫阳性细胞的分布疏密不一、细胞免疫染色浓淡不一、ＥＧＦＲ及其配体在不同瘤中的表达方式不一;免疫组化结果与肿瘤的     

转化生长因子α在卵巢癌中的自分泌作用

目的 为研究ＴＧＦ－α与卵巢癌发生发展的关系。方法 采用免疫组化，原位杂交方法检测了ＴＧＦ－α在７２例卵巢肿瘤及正常卵巢组织中的表达。结果 ＴＧＦ－α和其ｍＲＮＡ在卵巢癌中的阳性率为７１．０５％和５７．８９％，在良性肿瘤，交界性肿瘤和正常卵巢组织中的检出率分别为３０．００％和２０．００％，５８．３３％和３３．３３％及４１．６７％和１６．６７％，各组与卵巢癌组间均有显著差异。     

Alteration of BRCA-1 tumor suppressor gene expression in serous and mucinous ovarian neoplasms in the benign-borderline-malignant pathway

Alteration of expression of the tumor suppressor gene BRCA-1 has been widely studied in breast and ovarian carcinoma. However, pattern of this alteration in the benign-borderline-carcinoma sequence in serous and mucinous ovarian neoplasms have not yet fully described. Tissue sections from 214 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded ovarian specimens were stained immunohistochemically with BRCA-1 antibody. Specimens were 10 normal ovarian surface epithelium, 10 fallopian tube epithelium, 70 benign adenoma (50 serous and 20 mucinous), 28 borderline (13 serous and 15 mucinous), 78 carcinoma (58 serous and 20 mucinous), and 18 metastatic deposit (13 serous and 5 mucinous). Expression was evaluated into 0, +1, +2, and +3. Score +3 staining similar to normal tissues was considered normal and other scores were considered altered expression. Strong expression was seen in all normal epithelium specimens. Altered expression was seen in 34 serous neoplasms; 17 of 50 (34%) of benign cystadenomas, 6 of 13 (46%) of borderline tumors, 43 of 58 (74%) of primary carcinoma, and in 8 of 13 (62%) of metastatic carcinoma. This alteration was significantly associated with higher histopathologic grade (P = 0.049), presence of necrosis (P = 0.0001), and higher proliferation rate (P = 0.001). In mucinous neoplasms; altered BRCA-1 was detected in 25 specimens; 7 of 20 (41%) of benign cystadenomas, 5 of 15 (33%) of borderline neoplasms, 9 of 20 (45%) of primary carcinoma, and 4 of 5 (80%) of the metastatic deposits. This alteration was not associated with any of the clinicopathologic tumor characteristics. In conclusion, alteration of BRCA-1 expression is more frequent in serous than in mucinous carcinomas and is associated with tumors of higher grades and high proliferation rate.     

蛋白酪氨酸激酶PTK7在卵巢浆液性肿瘤中的表达及意义

背景与目的：新近发现的蛋白酪氨酸激酶-7(protein tyrosine kinase-7,PTK7)基因与多种肿瘤的发生、发展和浸润有关。本研究旨在探讨PTK7在卵巢浆液性肿瘤中的表达及其与临床分期、组织学分级、转移和预后等指标的关系,分析PTK7表达在卵巢浆液性肿瘤中的诊断及预后价值。方法：制备3株卵巢癌细胞系(HO8910、SKOV3、A2780)爬片,并收集14例正常输卵管上皮组织,6例良性浆液性卵巢肿瘤,51例交界性浆液性卵巢肿瘤和97例卵巢浆液性癌组织蜡块,采用免疫组化EliVision两步法检测PTK7蛋白的表达,结合相关病理指标,采用χ²检验、Fisher确切概率法、Kaplan-Meier法进行统计分析。结果：PTK7在卵巢癌细胞株HO8910及A2780中呈阴性表达,在SKOV3中成弱阳性表达。PTK7在92.86%(13/14)的正常输卵管上皮、83.33%(5/6)的良性浆液性卵巢肿瘤、45.10%(23/51)的交界性浆液性卵巢肿瘤和28.87%(28/97)的浆液性卵巢癌中阳性表达。正常输卵管上皮与良性浆液性肿瘤、良性浆液性肿瘤与交界性浆液性肿瘤之间PTK7表达差异无统计学意义(P=0.521,P=0.102)。浆液性卵巢癌与正常输卵管上皮、良性浆液性肿瘤以及交界性浆液性肿瘤之间PTK7表达差异有统计学意义(P=0.000,P=0.012,P=0.048)。PTK7在交界性浆液性卵巢肿瘤中的表达与其临床分期、淋巴结和(或)腹膜转移情况有关(P=0.038,P=0.038),与其发生部位、年龄无关(P=0.088,P=0.896)。PTK7在卵巢浆液癌中的表达与其临床分期、WHO分级、MDACC病理分级有关(P=0.011,P=0.004,P=0.000),与其发生部位、转移情况、肿瘤直径、年龄无关(P=0.326,P=0.524,P=0.588,P=0.584)。卵巢浆液癌中PTK7阳性组的生存率显著高于阴性组(P=0.017)。结论：PTK7在输卵管正常上皮、良性浆液性卵巢肿瘤、交界性浆液性卵巢肿瘤和浆液性癌中表达呈逐步下调趋势。PTK7表达与卵巢上皮性浆液性肿瘤的较晚临床分期、高组织分级、预后差呈正相关,可能成为卵巢浆液性肿瘤辅助诊断及临床预后的新指标。     

Molecular pathogenesis of ovarian borderline tumors: new insights and old challenges.

Ovarian borderline (low malignant potential) tumors are a puzzling group of neoplasms that do not fall neatly into benign or malignant categories. Their behavior is enigmatic, their pathogenesis unclear, and their clinical management controversial, especially for serous borderline tumors (SBT), the most common type of ovarian borderline tumor. Clarifying the nature of borderline tumors and their relationship to invasive carcinoma has puzzled investigators since the category was created over 30 years ago. Much of the confusion and controversy concerning these tumors is due to a lack of understanding of their pathogenesis and an absence of a model for the development of ovarian carcinoma. This review summarizes recent molecular studies of ovarian borderline tumors with special emphasis on the role of SBT in tumor progression and its relationship to ovarian serous carcinoma.     

Phosphorylated 4E binding protein 1: a hallmark of cell signaling that correlates with survival in ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND: Growth factor receptors and cell signaling factors play a crucial role in human carcinomas and have been studied in ovarian tumors with varying results. Cell signaling involves multiple pathways and a myriad of factors that can be mutated or amplified. Cell signaling is driven through the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) pathways and by some downstream molecules, such as 4E binding protein 1 (4EBP1), eukaryotic initiation factor 4E, and p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K). The objectives of this study were to analyze the real role that these pathways play in ovarian cancer, to correlate them with clinicopathologic characteristics, and to identify the factors that transmit individual proliferation signals and are associated with pathologic grade and prognosis, regardless specific oncogenic alterations upstream. METHODS: One hundred twenty-nine ovarian epithelial tumors were studied, including 20 serous cystadenomas, 7 mucinous cystadenomas, 11 serous borderline tumors, 16 mucinous borderline tumors, 29 serous carcinomas, 16 endometrioid carcinomas, 15 clear cell carcinomas, and 15 mucinous carcinomas. Tissue microarrays were constructed, and immunohistochemistry for the receptors epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and c-erb-B2 was performed and with phosphorylated antibodies for protein kinase B (AKT), 4EBP1, p70S6K, S6, and ERK. RESULTS: Among 129 ovarian neoplasms, 17.8% were positive for c-erb-B2, 9.3% were positive for EGFR, 47.3% were positive for phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT), 58.9% were positive for p-ERK, 41.1% were positive for p-4EBP1, 26.4% were positive for p70S6K, and 15.5% were positive for p-S6. Although EGFR, p-AKT, and p-ERK expression did not differ between benign, borderline, or malignant tumors, c-erb-B2, p-4EBP1, p-p70S6K, and p-S6 were expressed significantly more often in malignant tumors. Only p-4EBP1 expression demonstrated prognostic significance (P = .005), and only surgical stage and p-4EBP1 expression had statistical significance in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with ovarian carcinoma, significant expression of p-4EBP1 was associated with high-grade tumors and a poor prognosis, regardless other oncogenic alterations upstream. This finding supports the study of this factor as a hallmark or pivotal factor in cell signaling in ovarian carcinoma that may crucial in the transmission of the proliferation cell signal and may reflect the real oncogenic role of this pathway in ovarian tumors.     

Lewis y抗原及整合素α_5、β_1在卵巢浆液性肿瘤中的表达及意义

目的：研究Lewis y抗原及整合素α5、β1在卵巢浆液性肿瘤中的表达及其意义。方法：应用免疫组织化学方法检测30例卵巢浆液性囊腺癌、11例交界性卵巢浆液性囊腺瘤、13例卵巢浆液性囊腺瘤、11例正常卵巢组织中Lewis y抗原及整合素α5、β1的表达情况。结果：Lewis y抗原在卵巢浆液性囊腺癌中的阳性表达率为90.0%,明显高于交界性（63.6%）、良性卵巢浆液性囊腺瘤（38.5%）及正常卵巢组织（0）中的表达（P均〈0.05）。整合素α5、β1在卵巢浆液性囊腺癌中的阳性表达率分别为86.7%和83.3%,高于两者在交界性（72.7%,72.7%）、良性卵巢浆液性囊腺瘤（69.2%,53.8%）及正常卵巢组织（36.4%,36.4%）中的表达（P均〈0.05）。Lewis y抗原及整合素α5、β1在卵巢浆液性囊腺癌中的表达呈显著正相关（P均〈0.01）。结论：Lewis y抗原及整合素α5、β1在卵巢浆液性囊腺癌中的阳性表达率普遍增高,且两者的表达呈显著性正相关。提示Lewis y抗原及整合素α5、β1在卵巢浆液性囊腺癌的发生、发展中起着重要作用。     

PKP4在卵巢上皮性浆液性囊腺癌组织中的表达及其临床意义

目的:检测PKP4（plakophilin 4,又称p0071）在卵巢上皮性浆液性囊腺癌组织中的表达,探讨PKP4参与肿瘤发生发展的机制及其临床意义。方法:利用免疫组化SP法检测PKP4在55例卵巢上皮性浆液性囊腺癌,12例卵巢上皮性交界性肿瘤,13例卵巢上皮性良性肿瘤,15例正常卵巢组织中表达情况,分析其与卵巢上皮性浆液性囊腺癌患者临床病理参数及预后的关系。结果:PKP4以细胞膜、细胞质着色为主,PKP4在卵巢上皮性浆液性囊腺癌组织中阳性表达率(94.55%)明显高于正常卵巢组织(26.67%)、卵巢上皮性良性肿瘤组织(46.15%)及卵巢上皮性交界性肿瘤(75.00%)(P＜0.05)。PKP4表达随FIGO分期增加而增高(P＜0.05),是影响卵巢上皮性浆液性囊腺癌患者总生存时间和预后的独立危险因素。结论:PKP4与卵巢癌的发生、发展和预后相关,有望在卵巢癌的早期诊断及预后评估方面发挥重大意义。     

Characterization of active mitogen-activated protein kinase in ovarian serous carcinomas.

PURPOSE: Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) plays a pivotal role in signal transduction. Activation of MAPK is regulated by upstream kinases including KRAS and BRAF, which are frequently mutated in low-grade ovarian serous carcinoma. This study evaluates the expression of active MAPK in ovarian serous carcinomas, with response to treatment and survival. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Expression of active MAPK was assessed by immunohistochemistry in 207 cases of ovarian serous tumors. Immunoreactivity was correlated with tumor grade, mutational status of KRAS and BRAF, in vitro drug resistance, and clinical outcome. RESULT: There was a lower frequency of expression of active MAPK in high-grade ovarian serous carcinomas as compared with low-grade serous tumors, including borderline tumors and low-grade serous carcinoma (P < 0.001). Active MAPK was present in all of the 19 low-grade tumors with either KRAS or BRAF mutations as well as in 14 (41%) of 34 tumors with wild-type KRAS and BRAF in both low- and high-grade carcinomas. Expression of active MAPK alone served as a good survival indicator in the 2-year follow-up (P = 0.037) but not in the 5-year follow-up (P = 0.145). However, a combination of expression of active MAPK and in vitro sensitivity of paclitaxel significantly correlated with a better prognosis in 5-year survival rate (P = 0.048) in patients with advanced-stage high-grade serous carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Active MAPK is more frequently expressed in low-grade than in high-grade ovarian serous carcinoma. Active MAPK serves as a good prognostic marker in patients with high-grade serous carcinomas.     

p16、p53、BRAF、Bcl-2在卵巢浆液性肿瘤组织中的表达及临床意义

目的:探讨卵巢浆液性肿瘤组织中p16、p53、BRAF、Bcl-2的表达及临床意义。方法:收集宁夏医科大学总医院病理科2017年至2018年确诊的卵巢浆液性肿瘤136例，其中浆液性囊腺瘤52例，交界性囊腺瘤22例，低级别浆液性癌18例，高级别浆液性癌44例；另收集卵巢良性肿瘤和卵巢癌手术切除标本各30例。分别采用免疫组织化学SP法检测p16、p53、BRAF、Bcl-2的表达，实时定量PCR法检测p16、p53在卵巢良恶性肿瘤组织中的表达。结果:卵巢浆液性囊腺瘤、交界性囊腺瘤、低/高级别浆液性癌组织中p16的阳性率分别为3.8%、45.5%、88.9%、81.8%，p53为0、9.1%、55.6%、45.5%，BRAF为46.2%、45.5%、22.2%、31.8%，Bcl-2为46.2%、45.5%、38.9%、47.7%。不同类型浆液性肿瘤组织中p16、p53表达均有显著性差异（P＜0.001），但BRAF、Bcl-2表达未见明显差异。与卵巢良性肿瘤相比，p16在交界性肿瘤、卵巢癌中的阳性表达明显升高，差异有显著统计学意义（P＜0.012 5）；p53在卵巢癌中的阳性表达明显高于良性肿瘤（P＜0.001）；p16和p53的表达呈正相关（P＜0.05）。p53、Bcl-2与卵巢癌淋巴结转移有相关性（P＜0.001），p16、p53、Bcl-2与盆腔侵犯有关（P＜0.05），p53、BRAF、Bcl-2与CA125表达有不同程度相关性（P＜0.05）。p16、p53联合检测对卵巢癌诊断的敏感性和特异性为90.0%、76.7%。结论:p16、p53、BRAF、Bcl-2参与卵巢癌的发生发展，p16和p53基因突变可能在卵巢浆液性肿瘤的恶性进展中发挥作用，联合检测p16、p53对卵巢癌诊断有指示意义。     

Pathology of ovarian carcinoma

Serous carcinoma is the most common type of ovarian cancer and usually is associated with peritoneal metastases and poor survival except for meticulously staged patients with tumors confined to the ovaries. Endometrioid and clear cell carcinomas account for most nonserous carcinomas and more often present with low-stage disease; survival for the various cell types is similar when stratified by stage. Borderline ovarian tumors can be subdivided into benign and malignant neoplasms, and in the view of some experts, this renders the borderline category obsolete. Women with typical serous borderline tumors (atypical proliferative serous tumors) constitute most of these patients and have virtually 100% survival, unless invasive peritoneal implants are present. Micropapillary serous carcinomas (a less common variant, also called serous borderline tumor with a micropapillary pattern) and tumors with invasive implants behave similar to low-grade invasive carcinomas.     

Expression of epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor-alpha and their receptor genes in human gastric carcinomas; implication for autocrine growth

The expressions of mRNA for epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) and EGF receptor (EGFR) genes were examined in 7 human gastric carcinoma cell lines and 15 gastric carcinoma tissues and the corresponding normal mucosas. All of the gastric carcinoma cell lines expressed mRNA for EGFR and TGF-alpha genes. TMK-1 and MKN-28 cells also expressed EGF mRNA. Production of EGF, TGF-alpha and EGFR protein by gastric carcinoma cell lines was also confirmed by EGF and TGF-alpha specific monoclonal antibody binding. As for surgical specimens, EGFR and TGF-alpha mRNA were detected at high levels in all the tumor tissues. Interestingly, EGF mRNA was detected in 5 (33.3%) of the 15 gastric carcinomas but it was not detected in normal tissues. Moreover, anti-EGF and anti-TGF-alpha monoclonal antibodies inhibited the spontaneous 3H-TdR uptake by gastric carcinoma cells. These results suggest that EGF and/or TGF-alpha produced by tumor cells act as autocrine growth factors for gastric carcinomas.