Regulation of Pituitary Tumor Cell Prolieration by Epidermal Growth Factor and Genistein / 华中科技大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

Recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF, 20 ng/ml) and Genistein (740 μmol/ml) were added to the cells from 12 cases of human pituitary tumors and co-cultured in vitro. The 3H-thymidine uptake of tumor cells was measured by scintillation counter and tyrosine kinases activity was detected by using immunocytochemical method. The results showed that 3H-thymidine uptake and tyrosine kinases activity were increased in 10 out of 12 cases of human pituitary tumor by EGF and both declined by Genistein. It was suggested that EGF had a strong mitogenic effect on majority of pituitary tumors. Genistein could abolish the effects of EGF promoting the proliferation of the tumor cells, inhibit the growth of the tumor and might be useful in pituitary tumor treatment.