EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR AND TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR-ALPHA IN HUMANMENINGIOMAS

Recently we have shown that human meningiomas overexpress epidermal gr owth factor receptor (EGFR) (Torp SH et al APMIS 100: 797-802, 1992). We therefore wanted to examine these tumours for the expression of the EGFR ligands epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth fa ctor-alpha (TGF-alpha). Normal human meningeal tissues were used as co ntrols. Immunohistochemistry (IH) and radioimmunoassay (RIA) demonstra ted the presence of EGF and/or TGF-alpha. immunoreactivity in sixteen of nineteen meningiomas. By means of RIA detectable amount of TGF-alph a was also recorded in normal leptomeninges. Discrepancies between IH and RIA were noted and are discussed. Our findings suggest that EGFR/E GF/TGF-alpha play a role in growth regulatory mechanisms in human meni ngiomas.