The epidermal growth factor. A review of structural and functional relationships in the normal organism and in cancer cells.

The article is a review of recent knowledge of the structural relationships of epidermal growth factor (EGF) with other biological products occurring in a wide range of animal species and some viruses. The place of EGF and related products in the physiology of the whole organism is discussed against this background. Special attention is given to the role of EGF as a tissue growth factor and to the participation of related products in cancer.