Transforming growth factor-alpha secretion by epidermal growth factor-dependent human tumor cell lines

Pairs of cell lines from spontaneous human tumors (cervical adenocarcinoma, melanoma, and synovial sarcoma) were established using serum-free culture conditions with and without exogenous epidermal growth factor (EGF). EGF-adapted cultures of melanoma and cervical adenocarcinoma origin secreted higher levels of bioactive transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) when compared to cultures maintained in the absence of EGF. Depletion of EGF for these EGF-adapted cultures resulted in growth arrest. In contrast, the sarcoma cell lines did not secrete TGF-alpha regardless of the culture conditions but EGF significantly stimulated proliferation of these cells in short-term assays. We show that exogenous EGF induces TGF-alpha production and supports proliferation of tumor cells of various tissue origin but is not essential for in vitro growth factor-deprived conditions.