Jones, Gregory Justin2018-10-222018-10-221993https://hdl.handle.net/10539/25852A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science.A member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family; transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-a) shares significant homology with EGF and binds to the EGF receptor (EGF-R). Like EGF TGF-a plays important roles in normal physiological processes; but, as its name signifies, it has potent transforming ability; often associated with autocrine stimulatory mechanisms. The purpose of this study is to investigate a possible role for TGF-a and its receptor in certam human oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell lines - namely, WHCO-I, -3 and -5. The wellstudied A431 epidermoid. carcinoma cell line was used throughout for control purposes. (Abbreviation abstract)enTransforming growth factors.Epidermal growth factor.Esophagus -- Cancer.Thesis