Abstract

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a polypeptide hormone originally isolated from mouse submaxillary gland, which is a potent mitogen for a wide variety of culture cells of both epithelial and mesenchymal origin, and its important role in the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of neural and glial precursor cells. The physiological effects of EGF are mediated by an EGF receptor with tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity. The traditionally accepted view is that normal epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is no tumorigenic, whereas mutated EGFR is oncogenic. Recently, it has been implicated that EGF could be beneficial for burn, wound healing, diabetic foot ulcer, and show an attractive perspective In addition, cosmetic containing EGF would be effective in improving the plasticity of skin, helps in anti-aging and whitening, and controls the amount of erythema and sebum in the skin. In our team we have successfully prepared a series of 206 bottles of  Shampoo liquid and 20 bottles of recombinant human EGF (rhEGF) spray, and 4 bottles of EGFSilvadence ointment. The initial results indicated that prepared rhEGF is safe and available in clinical use. On the other hand, progress on the interaction of EGF with its mutated oncogenic receptors in the development of some cancers such as A431 human SCC cells, brain glioblastoma, breast, pancreas and lung cancers. In addition to a series of gefitinib, erlotinib, osimertinib and the CIMAvax-EGF vaccine, an antioncogenic receptor antibodybased fusion protein [for example Cetuximab-based IL-10 fusion protein, CmAb-(IL10)2] provide a potential strategy to improve cancer immunotherapy.

Keywords: EGF; EGFR and oncogenic receptor EGFR; Target therapy