Expression and clinical significance of EGF and TGF-α in chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this project was to investigate the expression and clinical significance of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and the transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) in the occurrence and development of chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. METHODS: We recruited 31 patients with chronic pancreatitis, 42 with pancreatic cancer, and 20 with normal pancreas in our hospital. Chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and normal pancreas expressed EGF and TGF-alpha mRNAs as well as EGF and TGF-alpha proteins. RESULTS: Immunofluorescence showed that EGF and TGF-alpha were expressed in chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, but the expression levels for both proteins were higher in pancreatic cancer. Variance analysis indicated that the differences in the expression levels of EGF and TGF-alpha in chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and normal pancreas were statistically significant. The abnormally elevated expression of EGF and TGF-alpha are closely associated with the occurrence and development of chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. CONCLUSIONS: EGF and TGF-alpha have important research value as indicators to assess the progression of these conditions and provide a new basis for the clinical diagnosis.