AUTOCRINE STIMULATION OF COLONIC-CARCINOM A CELL-PROLIFERATION - BIOLOGICAL ANECDOTE OR NEW THERAPEUTIC TARGET

Chemotherapy has little efficacy in the treatment of advanced colorect al carcinoma. Biological investigation has made evident several autocr ine stimulation loops; the best documented one involves epidermal grow th factor (EGF): this growth factor stimulates cell proliferation and cell secretion of proteolytic enzymes. Suramin and somatostatin are ab le to disrupt these loops of stimulation. Clinical studies performed w ith octreotide, a somatostatin analogue, and suramin have been unsucce ssful until now.