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Role of growth factors in oncogenesis: growth factor-proto-oncogene pathways of mitogenesis

J S Huang, S S Huang

    Ciba Foundation Symposium
    |January 1, 1985
    PubMed

    Insights

    Cellular genes responding to growth factors can become oncogenes. These growth factor-proto-oncogene pathways are crucial for cell growth and are similar across cell types, though specific pathways like PDGF and EGF do not overlap.

    Area of Science:

    • Molecular Biology
    • Cellular Signaling
    • Oncogenesis

    Background:

    • Cellular genes encoding proteins in growth factor response pathways are potential oncogenes.
    • The cascade from growth factor-receptor interaction to DNA synthesis is termed the 'growth factor-proto-oncogene pathway(s) of mitogenesis'.
    • Growth factor receptors are similar across responsive cell types, suggesting conserved pathway mechanisms.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the role of growth factor-proto-oncogene pathways in cellular mitogenesis.
    • To determine if different growth factors utilize common or distinct pathways for stimulating DNA synthesis.
    • To clarify the involvement of specific genes, such as c-myc, in these signaling cascades.

    Main Methods:

    • Analysis of cellular gene functions in response to growth factor stimulation.
    • Comparative study of signaling pathways for Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF), Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), and Brain-Derived Growth Factor (BDGF).
    • Investigation of the c-myc gene product's role in mitogenic signaling.

    Main Results:

    • Growth factor-proto-oncogene pathways are conserved across different cell types.
    • Major growth factors like PDGF, EGF, and BDGF do not share a common pathway for mitogenesis in responsive cells.
    • The c-myc gene product is implicated in the cellular response to PDGF/FGF but not directly in the signal transmission to DNA synthesis.

    Conclusions:

    • The growth factor-proto-oncogene pathway is a fundamental mechanism of mitogenesis conserved across cell types.
    • Distinct growth factors employ specific, non-overlapping pathways to drive cellular proliferation.
    • While c-myc is involved in cellular responses, its direct role in the DNA synthesis signaling cascade remains distinct from initial signal transmission.

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