FREQUENT EXPRESSION OF GENES FOR RECEPTOR TYROSINE KINASES AND THEIR LIGANDS IN HUMAN PANCREATIC-CANCER CELLS

Limited information is available concerning the involvement of growth factor receptors and their ligands in the pathogenesis of human pancre atic cancer. We analyzed 12 human pancreatic cancer cell lines by Nort hern blot analysis for the expression of 9 receptor tyrosine kinases ( RTKs) and 6 growth factors. The effect of a monoclonal antibody (MAb) against transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) on in vitro pancr eatic cancer cell growth was also assessed. mRNA for EGF-R, c-erbB-2 a nd c-erbB-3 was expressed in 12 (100%), 12 (100%), and 7 (58%), respec tively, of the cell lines examined. In addition, 8 (67%) cell lines ex pressed the c-met/receptor for hepatocyte growth factor. As for ligand s, TGF-alpha mRNA was detected in 10 (83%) cell lines; MAb against TGF -alpha inhibited growth of the 2 cell lines examined. Furthermore, mRN A for amphiregulin (AR) was expressed in 10 (83%) cell lines. Coexpres sion of TGF-alpha, AR, and EGF-R was observed in 9 (75%) cell lines. T hese results support the concept that several specified types of RTKs and their ligands are closely involved in regulation of the growth of human pancreatic cancer cells.