[Role of growth factors in the etiopathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia]

A comment is made on the role growth factors play on the regulation of prostate growth. These factors require the mediation of an specific membrane receptor to which they have to bind in order to exercise their action correctly. The objective of the present job is to carry out a comprehensive review of each and every growth factor involved in prostate growth: family of the epidermal growth factor, family of the beta-transforming growth factor, and family of the fibroblast growth factor. As a final conclusion, it should be mentioned that the two prostate growth-regulating factors more extensively studied and with greater etiopathogenic relevance in benign prostate hyperplasia, are the epidermal growth factor and, more particularly, the fibroblast growth factor.