Analysis of growth factors in renal cell carcinoma

Tissue extracts prepared from human renal tissue, renal cell carcinoma and serum-free conditioned media of ACHN cells and A498 cells, cell line originated from human renal cell carcinoma, stimulated DNA synthesis of BALB/c 3T3 cells. The activity (growth factor activity) was significantly higher in renal cell carcinoma than in normal tissues. Radioreceptor assay revealed that the contents of epidermal growth factor and type alpha transforming growth factor in the tissue extracts from renal cell carcinoma and conditioned media from renal cell carcinoma cell lines were below detectable level. Most of growth factor activity of the tissue extracts and conditioned media showed high affinity for heparin-Ultrogel, indicating that the major growth factor activity was due to heparin-binding growth factor(s). In addition, renal cell carcinoma contained growth factor activity for ACHN cells, which did not show specific affinity for heparin-Ultrogel.