[EFR-like peptides and their receptors as prognostic factors for the survival of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer].

The levels of EGFR and its ligands have been assayed in tumor and adjacent lung tissues in NSCLC patients. Both EGFR and EGF-like peptides were found in tumor more frequently than in unaltered tissue. It was shown (Kaplan-Meyer) that simultaneous expression of EGFR and its ligands in tumor and adjacent lung tissues was associated with lower overall and relapse-free survival in NSCLC patients.

[Epidermal growth factor receptors and their ligands in non-small-cell lung carcinoma].

Investigators and clinicians have recently called attention not only to the clinical and morphological parameters, but to the parameters characterizing the biological activity of nonsmall-cell carcinoma of the lung (NSCCL) from biochemical and molecular biological points of view. These include production of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors (EGFR) and their ligands which are important auto/paracrine regulation of lung tissue formation in health and tumor growth. Active studies of EGFR and EGF-like peptides (mainly, EGF and alpha-TGF) have failed to gain an insight into their role in the pathogenesis of NSCCL.