Epidermal Growth Factor Methods & Protocols

This is a comprehensive collection of optimized methods for dissecting the mechanisms that control epidermal growth factors (EGF) and their regulators in both normal and pathological states. These readily reproducible techniques range from the study of purified EGF receptor to complex signaling and processing networks in intact cells, including a chapter on the clinical and pharmacological considerations of their use in cancer therapy. The protocols follow the successful "Methods in Molecular Biology[trademark]" series format, each offering step-by-step laboratory instructions, an introduction outlining the principles behind the technique, lists of the necessary equipment and reagents, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. From the reviews: "The role of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in both normal development and malignancy has been elucidated gradually over the past half century ... . this book could well prove a great source of help and inspiration to anyone trying to develop kits to simplify and streamline the analysis of the EGF system. ... would also be a good introduction to EGF history, physiology and possible future developments, so it could be worth looking out for in the library ... ." (D. J. Cook, British Journal of Biomedical Science, Vol. 63 (2), 2006)