Cell-cycle analysis, growth factors and proliferative activity in middle ear cholesteatoma

In order to provide much more understanding into the proliferation and differentiation of the epithelia in cholesteatoma, cell cycle associated molecules were studied by anti-PCNA and anti-Ki67, the two well characterized antibodies. In addition, The experiments included expression, localization, and quantification of EGF, TGF, EGF-R in the cholesteatoma. This study demonstrates the presence of TGFand EGF-R in the epithelium and TGF, EGF and EGF-R in the stroma of cholesteatoma. As cholesteatoma is a disease with progressive growth of the epithelium, our result showed a high MIB 1/PCNA index means the importance of the inflamed stroma. Taking all the results showing in our study, it may draw a conclusion that TGF, EGF, and EGF-R are involved in the formal pathogenesis of cholesteatoma. These results might help us to define the epithelial cells behavior in cholesteatoma clinically.