Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) increases cell number in a human pancreatic cancer cell line but not in normal mouse pancreas
BACKGROUND: The pancreas harbors growth factors such as the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family. The physiological and pathophysiological roles of growth factors in normal pancreas remain unsettled. Human pancreatic cancer overexpresses the EGF receptor, and the ligands EGF and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha). The aim of the present experiments was to study the effect of TGF-alpha in
