Detection of TGF-α and EGFR in human astrocytoma tissue

Aim: To study the expression of TGF-α gene and EGFR and their relationship to occurrence and development of human astrocytomas.Methods: In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were used to investigate the expression of TGF -α mRNA, TGF-α,EGFR in fifty human astrocytoma samples and ten cases of normal brain tissue, respectively.Results: There was no positive expression of TGF-α protein or EGFR protein in normal brain tissue.The positive staining rate of TGF-α mRNA in human astrocytoma tissue was 56%. The total positive rates of TGF-α and EGFR protein were 64% and 68%, respectively in human astrocytoma samples.The expressions of the 3 parameters were positively correlated with the pathological grades(P0.01). TGF-α was positively correlated with EGFR(P0.05).Conclusion: It is suggested that there is abnormal expression of TGF-α gene in human astrocytoma tissue and the autosecretion system of TGF-α/EGFR may play a key role in the oncogenesis and development of human astrocytomas.