Vol 58, No 1 (2007)
Review paper
Published online: 2007-01-31
Polypeptide growth factors in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours
Endokrynol Pol 2007;58(1):42-51.
Abstract
Polypeptide growth factors form a potent class of extracellular signal molecules in the regulation of cellular differentiation
and proliferation. Disturbances in the expression of growth factors influence the normal pathway of differentiation and
lead to cellular transformation and tumour progression. Contemporary medical studies report that various growth factors
such as those for platelet-derived growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, epidermal growth factor, hepatocyte
growth factor and insulin-like growth factor are expressed in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP/NET).
Polypeptide growth factors have great significance in the growth, progression and development of metastases by various
tumours. We describe the role of growth factors in GEP/NET on the basis of the available reports of medical research.
Keywords: gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumoursgrowth factorsinsulin-like growth factorplatelet-derived growth factorvascular endothelial growth factorepidermal growth factorfibroblast growth factor