GROWTH-FACTOR MESSENGER-RNA EXPRESSION IN HUMAN HEAD AND NECK MALIGNANT-TUMORS

Objective: Growth factor overexpression has been shown to be an integr al part of the growth promotion of a number of tumors, including breas t carcinoma, colon carcinoma, and sarcomas. The role of peptide growth factors in the regulation of growth of head and neck cancers has not been extensively investigated, however. In this study, we present our preliminary results of the pattern of expression of four growth factor s: insulinlike growth factor II, transforming growth factor-alpha, bas ic fibroblast growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor A chai n in human head and neck tumors. Design: We examined eight benign and 27 malignant human head and neck surgical specimens for the expression of growth factor messenger RNAs using the polymerase chain reaction t echnique. Results: Our preliminary data demonstrate that growth factor messenger RNA is expressed by most of our malignant head and neck can cer specimens and by all eight benign head and neck tissue specimens. However, we were not able to show any distinction in the pattern of gr owth factor RNA expression among the malignant head and neck surgical specimens for the four growth factors studied to date. Conclusions: Th ese findings demonstrate that the expression of specific biologically active genes can be studied in routine surgical specimens using the po lymerase chain reaction. The clinical prognostic significance of the o verexpression of growth factors in head and neck malignancy as well as future therapeutic implications are discussed.