# PANCREATIC CANCER AND EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR RECEPTOR

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA · 1987 · $104,597

## Abstract

The exocrine pancreas consists of acinar cells that synthesize and secrete
digestive enzymes, and duct cells that produce bicarbonate-rich fluid.
Pancreatic malignancies may arise from either cell type.  The molecular
signals that lead to malignant transformation and subsequent growth
advantage of these cells are not known.  Recent studies indicate, however,
that several cultured human pancreatic carcinoma cells have an
overabundance of EGF receptors.  The gene coding for the EGF receptor is a
protooncogene that has been implicated in the process of tumor promotion.
In the present proposal we plan to examine the molecular mechanisms that
lead to an overabundance of EGF receptors in cultured human pancreatic
carcinoma cells.  Two approaches will be used.  First, chromosomal analyses
of seven distinct pancreatic cancer cells will be carried out in order to
look for abnormalities in the region of chromosome 7 that is known to code
for the human EGF receptor gene.  Second, appropriate cDNA probes will be
used to determine whether the cell lines that overexpress the EGF receptor
exhibit an increased number of EGF receptor gene copies, or enhanced
stability of its mRNA.  The relevance of these observations to pancreatic
cancer in humans will be evaluated by determining the frequency of
overabundance of EGF receptors in biopsy specimen from pancreatic
malignancies.  A second important goal will be to study EGF receptor
metabolism and phosphorylation in a pancreatic cancer cell line (Panc-I)
that avidly binds and internalizes EGF without readily degrading the ligand.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3179746
- **Project number:** 5R01CA040162-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
- **SAM.gov UEI:** ED44Y3W6P7B9
- **Principal Investigator:** Murray Korc
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $104,597
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1986-04-01 → 1989-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3179746

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3179746, PANCREATIC CANCER AND EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR RECEPTOR (5R01CA040162-02). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3179746. Licensed CC0.

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