epidermal-growth-factor and Digestive-System-Neoplasms

Topics: Animals; Brain Neoplasms; Breast Neoplasms; Cell Division; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Digestive System Neoplasms; Epidermal Growth Factor; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Growth Substances; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Melanoma; Neoplasm Proteins; Neoplasms; Neoplasms, Experimental; Oncogenes; Rats; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Receptors, Growth Factor; Signal Transduction; Urogenital Neoplasms

Gastric secretion can provide valuable information especially when Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection results in chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) and intestinal metaplasia (IM) preceding adenocarcinoma (AdCa).. Looking for a potential biomarker of malignant transformation in the setting of chronic inflammation we studied the levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE(2)), as well as peptide growth factors [epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor α (TGFα)], harbingers of injury and repair, in gastric juice aspirated at endoscopy from patients with CAG, CAG/IM, AdCa, and controls.. The PGE(2), EGF and TGFα concentrations in the gastric juice were measured using radioimmunoassays (RIAs).. In patients with AdCa gastric juice PGE(2) increased fivefold versus controls (P < 0.01) and almost threefold versus patients with CAG (P < 0.05). The EGF levels in patients with AdCa were fourfold higher versus controls (P < 0.001) and almost threefold higher versus CAG (P < 0.05). In patients with CAG/IM the EGF levels were also almost 3 times higher versus controls. The TGFα levels in patients with AdCa were half the value of controls and CAG (P < 0.05). In patients with CAG/IM the levels were as low as 1/5 of controls or CAG (P < 0.05).. Testing the gastric juice for PGE(2), EGF, and TGFα in patients with endoscopy and biopsy proven CAG, may be helpful in follow up of patients who may potentially progress to IM and ultimately AdCa. This could be considered as an adjunct to histologic assessment especially that even the best surveillance biopsy specimen regimens are inherited with sampling errors.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Adult; Aged; Biomarkers, Tumor; Digestive System Neoplasms; Dinoprostone; Epidermal Growth Factor; Female; Gastric Juice; Gastritis, Atrophic; Helicobacter Infections; Humans; Intestines; Male; Metaplasia; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Transforming Growth Factor alpha

We aimed to assess the diagnostic application of urinary epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-binding growth factors in cancers of the digestive tract. By radioreceptor assay and radioimmunoassay, we determined these growth factors in 115 patients with various cancers of the digestive tract, 30 patients with benign disease, and 40 healthy controls. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and likelihood ratio were employed to determine the best diagnostic efficiency. Urinary EGFR-binding growth factors in each cancer group were significantly higher than those in the non-cancer groups. Multivariate analysis indicated that the growth factors, determined by both the radioreceptor assay (odds ratio, 1.184; 95% confidence interval,1.077-1.302; P = 0.001) and radioimmunoassay (odds ratio,1.055; 95% confidence interval, 1.002-1.111; P = 0.039), were associated, in a dose-related fashion, with the presence of cancers. By ROC curve analysis, the optimal cutoff values for EGFR-binding growth factors were 25.5 microg/g creatinine (radioreceptor assay) and 33.6 microg/g creatinine (radioimmunoassay). The resulting sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were 84.4%. 87.5%, 85.2%, 6.75 and 0.18 (for radioreceptor assay) and 86.1%, 67.5%, 81.3%, 2.64 and 0.21 (for radioimmunoassay), respectively. Except for pancreatic cancer the growth factors showed moderate diagnostic efficiency for the other digestive tract cancers. In conclusion, urinary EGFR-binding growth factors were increased in cancers of the digestive tract. They may be used as diagnostic tumor markers.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers, Tumor; Digestive System Neoplasms; Endopeptidases; Epidermal Growth Factor; ErbB Receptors; Female; Growth Substances; Humans; Ligands; Male; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Radioimmunoassay; Radioligand Assay; Regression Analysis; ROC Curve; Sensitivity and Specificity

To investigate whether the urinary excretion of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) is increased in patients with cancer of the digestive tract, EGF and TGF-alpha were determined in 109 cancer patients and 40 healthy controls. Excluding EGF in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and TGF-alpha in pancreatic cancer, both growth factors in each cancer group were significantly higher than in the control group. A receiver operating characteristic curve and likelihood ratio were applied to obtain the best diagnostic efficiency. Both EGF and TGF-alpha had high specificity (100%) in all cancer group. The high sensitivity of EGF in gastric cancer (100%) and metastatic liver cancer (93.3%), moderate sensitivity of TGF-alpha in metastatic liver cancer (86.6%), colon cancer (80.0%), and HCC (61.7%) suggested that they might be helpful in identifying these cancers. In conclusion, urinary excretion of EGF and TGF-alpha increased in most cancers of the digestive tract. They may be used as tumor markers.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Biomarkers, Tumor; Digestive System Neoplasms; Epidermal Growth Factor; ErbB Receptors; Female; Humans; Likelihood Functions; Male; Middle Aged; ROC Curve; Transforming Growth Factor alpha