Regulation of EGF-receptor expression by TGF? and EGF in human pros tate cancer cells / 中华泌尿外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To elucidate the regulation of e pidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression by transforming growth factor (TGF)? and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in human prostate cancer cells. Methods EGFR mRNA expression and its protein level were measur ed by means of RT-PCR and Western blot respectively in three human prostate can cer cell lines,the androgen-responsive (LNCaP) and the nonresponsive (ARCaP and PC3), all being treated with exogenous EGF or TGF?. Results TGF? enhanced EGFR mRNA two-to tenfold in all three cell lines, whereas EGF increased EGFR mRNA two-to sixfold.In all the three cell lines, TGF? induc ed total EGFR protein levels were higher than EGF. Conclusions These data indicate that TGF?/EGF-EGFR path-way serves as a key growth regulator in prostate cancer.TGF?, but not EGF, would preferentially maintain an autocrine loop in human androgen-nonresponsive prostate cancer.