ROLE OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR IN PEPTIC-ULCER HEALING

In recent years, increasing interest has been focused on peptide growt h factors, and impressive progress has been made in the understanding of their role in tumor development and progression. However, evidence is mounting that peptides such as epidermal growth factor and transfor ming growth factor-alpha may be of much more physiological than pathol ogical importance. This brief article is intended to give a rapid over view of the available data supporting a role for epidermal growth fact or and its human homologue urogastrone in peptic ulcer healing.