Role of Heparin-Binding EGF-Like Growth Factor in Breast Cancer

摘要

Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is a member of the EGF family which binds to and activates the EGF-receptor. Its role in breast cancer, however, is unclear. We have studied the mechanism of induction of HB-EGF by EGF in the spontaneously immortalized mammary epithelial cell line MCF-l0A and in MCF-10A cells that have been transformed with oncogenic Ha-ras. The levels of EGFR, erbB-2 and erbB-3 were very similar in the nontransformed and in the transformed MCF-10A cells. However, the levels of mitogen- activated protein kinase (MAPK) were elevated in the MCF-10A cells transformed with the Ha-ras oncogene.