International Journal of Cell Cloning, Vol 4, 224-236, Copyright © 1986 by AlphaMed Press
Transformation-related growth factors and their receptors
MD Bregman and NJ Sipes
Cellular transformation may be accomplished in vitro and in vivo through
the concerted action of growth factors and oncogenes. This association has
demonstrated that malignant growth results from aberrations in growth
factor-signal transduction pathways that normally operate to control
proliferation. Activation of genes that code for growth factors and/or
their receptors provides tumor cells with potential mechanisms to maintain
their proliferative state. Tumor cells have been shown to produce
endogenous substances that augment their growth (autocrine stimulation), as
well as responding to exogenous substances (paracrine stimulation). With
solid tumor cells these responses have been shown to involve aberrant
expression of growth factor and/or receptor genes. The study of the
interrelationship of these various growth regulatory molecules is important
not only in the identification of gene products essential to cellular
proliferation, but also in providing clues as to what forces are driving
tumor cell growth.
