[Effect of recombinant human basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on the growth of human tumor cell lines]

Effect of bFGF on the growth of 24 human tumor cells (established cell lines of epithelium series, mesenchymal series, muscle cell series, and nervous system series) was investigated in vitro. Of 24 cell lines examined, bFGF accelerated the growth of 6 cell lines including[A431(epidermoid carcinoma), KB (epidermoid carcinoma), HuH28 (bile duct carcinoma), YMB-1 (breast carcinoma), SW1353 (chondrosarcoma) and SKN(leiomyosarcoma)]. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha), utilized as control growth factors, also accelerated the growth of HuH28, SW1353 and SKN, and HuH28 and SKN, respectively. On the other hand, transforming growth factor beta 1(TGF beta 1), inhibited the growth of variety of cell lines and acceleration on cell growth was not recognized. These findings demonstrate the bFGF, as well as other growth factors, was found to promote the growth of a few cell lines investigated and that further experiments including in vivo studies will be needed. In conclusion, majority of the cell lines examined in this study seem to proliferate by their own endogenous growth factor(s) but not by exogenous bFGF.