Quantitative analysis of TGF-α and EGFR mRNA in laryngeal carcinoma tissues

Objective To elucidate the stimulating role of the growth factor autocrine loop in the carcinogenesis and development of laryngeal carcinomas Methods The reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction technique was applied, and with β actin as internal standard, TGF α and EGFR mRNA in laryngeal carcinomas, macroscopically normal laryngeal mucosas adjacent to the tumor and in vocal cord polyps were quantitatively examined Results The mRNA index of both TGF α and EGFR in laryngeal carcinomas and adjacent mucosas was significantly higher than those in vocal cord polyps ( P <0 05) The index of TGF α mRNA was significantly higher in laryngeal carcinomas than in mucosas adjacent to the tumor ( P <0 05) Conclusions The autocrine system consisting of TGF α and EGFR may play an important role in the very early stage of laryngeal carcinoma, or even when the tissue phenotypic alteration does not occur The elevated TGF α mRNA level may trigger a switch from genotypic alteration to the phenotypic The results are expected to be a theoretical basis for the preventive chemotherapy of laryngeal carcinomas