6th Annual BMRP Investigator Meeting - Abstract

Epidermal Growth Factor – A New Therapeutic Approach

Stephen Tsao¹, Jeremy Nightingale², Howard Pringle³, Kevin West³, Robert Goodlad⁴, Nicholas Wright<sup>4

1</sup>Digestive Diseases Centre, ³Department of Pathology, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (United Kingdom); ²St. Mark’s Hospital; ⁴Cancer Research UK (London, United Kingdom)

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a relapsing disease of unknown cause and its exact etiology is still unclear. Treatment has remained largely unchanged over the past 50 years, and mainly revolves around suppressing inflammation and the body’s immune system. Response rate varies between patients, and a proportion of patients will become refractory to these treatments. New treatment is therefore needed.

Extensive in vitro and in vivo animal experiments have suggested that epidermal growth factor (EGF) is involved with the healing and maintenance of the gut mucosa. To date there are no data regarding specific treatment that targets the healing process of the gut mucosa. In our preliminary study we showed that EGF when given in the form of an enema is effective in bringing patients into remission when they have a flare-up of their UC. For the first time we have demonstrated the potential for EGF to become an established treatment in UC. This is certainly an innovative approach to the treatment of UC, and if EGF treatment results in a greater length of time between exacerbations, or if EGF aborts or shortens an exacerbation of UC there will be a considerable improvement in the quality of life of IBD patients. In our current study we want to look at the efficacy of EGF further in acute UC when compared with mesalamine.

^aPrincipal Investigator