Inhibition of Growth of Human Lung Adenocarcinoma Cell Lines by Anti-Transforming Growth Factor-  Monoclonal Antibody

Abstract

We previously reported that two human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines (A-549 and PC-9) produce human transforming growth factor-alpha (hTGF-alpha) and express its receptors. In the present study an exogenously added monoclonal antibody against recombinant hTGF-alpha inhibited growth of these cell lines in vitro. This result indicated that endogenous hTGF-alpha produced by the cancer cells can function as an autocrine growth factor.