DETERMINATION OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR AND ITS RECEPTOR IN UTERINE LEIOMYOMA

Objective To study the role of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) in the pathogenesis of uterine leiomyoma. Methods The levels of EGF, EGFR, ER and PR in the leiomyoma tissues of 40 patients(20 in proliferative phase and 20 secretory phase) were determined by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. The results were compared with those of adjacent normal myometrium. Results The levels of EGF, EGFR, ER and PR were significantly higher in the leiomyomas than in the controls (t=2. 603-3.927, P0.05,0.01). Compared to the control tissues, the levels of EGFR in the proliferative phase and EGF in the secretive phase of the leiomyoma tissue were significantly higher (t=3.173,3.341; P0.01). The level of EGF was positively related to that of PR (r=0.71, P0.01), while the level of EGFR was related to that of ER (r=0.65, P0.01). Conclusion EGF and EGFR play an important role in the development of leiomyoma. The synthesis of EGF and EGFR is regulated by sex hormones.