TRANSFORMING GROWTH-FACTOR-ALPHA IS TROPHIC TO PANCREATIC-CANCER IN-VIVO

Pancreatic cancer cell lines overexpress epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors and also have the capacity to produce transforming growth f actor alpha (TGF alpha), the alternate agonist of the EGF receptor. Th e purpose of this study was to determine if TGF alpha had a trophic ef fect on the growth of pancreatic cancer in vivo. Syrian golden hamster s were inoculated with 50 000 H2T hamster ductal pancreatic cancer cel ls. The hamsters were then randomised to three equal groups: the group s received either saline (control), EGF, or TGF alpha, each by intrape ritoneal injection, three times a day. Treatment continued for seven w eeks, and each week the hamsters were weighed and tumour areas were me asured. The hamsters were then killed, and the tumours were excised, w eighed, and extracted for assay of DNA content as a measure of cellula rity. From week four onwards both EGF and TGF alpha significantly stim ulated tumour growth. Although tumour weights were not significantly d ifferent, tumour DNA content had nearly doubled after exposure to both EGF and TGF alpha. It is concluded that like EGF, TGF alpha can stimu late pancreatic cancer growth in vivo, and this may in part explain th e aggressive nature of these cancers in clinical practice.