# PLATELET-DERIVED GROWTH FACTOR IN HUMAN MALIGNANCIES

> **NIH NIH R01** · IMMUNE DISEASE INSTITUTE, INC. · 1987 · $136,701

## Abstract

Studies from our laboratories have shown that the simian sarcoma virus
(SSV) - transforming protein, p28sis, closely corresponds to the human
platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF).  The similarity has been
demonstrated in amino acid sequence, structure, and cross reactivity to
PDGF-antiserum.  In other studies we have shown that the SSV-infected cells
release molecules, which like PDGF stimulate DNA synthesis in target cells
in culture, compete for binding to PDGF-receptors of normal fibroblasts and
induce phosphorylation of fibroblast membrane proteins at tyrosine
residue.  The observations described here indicate that PDGF and the
transforming protein of the simian sarcoma virus have arisen from the same
or closely related cellular genes.  This finding provided a basis for the
understanding of the mechanisms by which the SSV onc gene induces cellular
transformation.  This mechanism may involve activation of sis transcription
which results in the production of PDGF-like polypeptides causing the
sustained abnormal proliferation of cells responsive to the growth
stimulatory effects of the PDGF-like mitogens.  If so, sis activation might
be implicated as a step in the process leading normal human cells of
certain tissue types towards malignancy.

We propose to investigate the production, processing and release of
PDGF-like proteins in cultures of human malignant cells.  Identification of
the PDGF-like proteins produced by the malignant cells will be carried out
by immunoprecipitation using specific PDGF-antisera.  The malignant cells
to be studied are of mesenchymal origin or derived from human lymphocytes
infected by the human T-cell lymphoma/leukemia virus, HTLV-1.  These cells
exhibit transcriptional activity of the sequences homologous to the
SSV-sequences which have been correlated to the PDGF gene sequences.
Intracellular PDGF-like proteins and the released products will be
characterized for their ability to stimulate DNA synthesis, cell membrane
protein phosphorylation, and for binding with PDGF-receptors.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3177065
- **Project number:** 5R01CA038784-03
- **Recipient organization:** IMMUNE DISEASE INSTITUTE, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** PANAYOTIS PANTAZIS
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $136,701
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-04-01 → 1988-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3177065

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3177065, PLATELET-DERIVED GROWTH FACTOR IN HUMAN MALIGNANCIES (5R01CA038784-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3177065. Licensed CC0.

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