Concentration of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in serum of women with endometrial cancer
Tomaszewski, J.; Miturski, R.; Kotarski, J.
Ginekologia Polska 67(5): 248-253
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0017-0011 PMID: 8925996 Document Number: 465401
Serum Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) concentrations were estimated in 40 women with endometrial carcinoma and in 10 women with proliferative endometrium. Medium EGF level in study group was 0.97 +/- 0.41 ng/ml whereas 0.78 +/- 0.19 ng/ml in control group. The highest values of EGF (1.39 +/- 0.44 ng/ml) were found in moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas (G2) whereas the low values (0.65 +/- 0.18 ng/ml) in poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas were noted. Statistically significant differences were observed among control group and moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas and between all groups of adenocarcinomas. In two patients with sarcoma uteri the lowest EGF (0.49 and 0.58 ng/ml) serum concentrations were found. Our results confirm that low EGF serum concentrations as well as EGF receptor on the cell surface probably may increase the risk of cancerogenesis in human endometrium.