CIRCULATING EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR (EGF) AND INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH-FACTOR-I (IGF-I) IN PATIENTS WITH EPITHELIAL OVARIAN-CARCINOMA

Circulating epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin-like growth fact or-I (IGF-I) were estimated in 58 patients with epithelial ovarian can cer and were correlated with clinically and biochemically important pr ognosticators. IGF-I levels were significantly low in patients as comp ared to controls. The relation of growth factors with clinically impor tant prognosticators was non-significant. Moreover, the levels of EGF and IGF-I in the ER(+)/PR(+) and ER(-)/PR(-) groups and in the low and high EGFR+ tumors did not differ significantly. Patients with EGF < 1 .0 ng/ml had significantly better survival than those with EGF > 1.0 n g/ml.