Review paper
The role of growth factors in pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer. Part II: Transforming growth factor beta (TGF- β), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), nerve growth factor (NGF)

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF- β) belongs to the family of dimeric polypeptide growth factors. It regulates various cellular processes through binding to three types of receptors. Studies with cell lines have shown that TGF- β1 may be one of the factors responsible for liver metastases, which contributes to local tumour progression and stimulates desmoplastic reaction in tumours. In clinical studies establishing the usefulness of TGF- β measurements in patients with pancreatic cancer various results have been demonstrated. Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) induce a biological reaction through activation of tyrosine kinase receptors. In clinical studies a correlation between overexpression of FGFs in pancreatic cancer cells and the stage of tumour and survival has been shown. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a member of the neurotrophin family. It binds to two types of receptor having tyrosine kinase activity. High expression of NGF receptors is more frequently observed in the case of cancer infiltration of perineural spaces.