[Epidermal growth factor receptors and their ligands in non-small-cell lung carcinoma]

Abstract

Investigators and clinicians have recently called attention not only to the clinical and morphological parameters, but to the parameters characterizing the biological activity of nonsmall-cell carcinoma of the lung (NSCCL) from biochemical and molecular biological points of view. These include production of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors (EGFR) and their ligands which are important auto/paracrine regulation of lung tissue formation in health and tumor growth. Active studies of EGFR and EGF-like peptides (mainly, EGF and alpha-TGF) have failed to gain an insight into their role in the pathogenesis of NSCCL. Most authors suppose that tumor EGFR production increases as cell atypical features enhance and tumors show EGFR hyperexpression as compared with intact lung tissue. The expression of EGF and alpha-TGF is associated with poor prognosis in NSCCL. Attempts at designing and clinically testing the agents that block the transmission of EGFR ligands within the tumor cell are well-known, which open up new possibilities for antitumor therapy of patients with NSCCL.