ABSTRACT
Transduction of signals originating from growth factor binding to cell surface receptors to the nucleus would follow such pathways. The external signals are translated into transient and/or permanent cellular responses, which eventually determine the genetic program of the cell. The connection between growth factors and oncogenes first became apparent through the finding that fibroblasts transformed by sarcoma viruses frequently secrete growth factors. Growth factor abrogation by transferring growth factor genes or their receptors yields little information on how the signal is processed and finally translated into a mitogenic response. This issue can be addressed by probing these systems with oncogenes. Growth factor signal transduction pathways in higher eucaryotes are just beginning to be unraveled. Growth factor abrogation experiments with oncogenes have contributed towards our understanding of cellular mechanisms controlling growth. They confronted with the complexity of these processes.
