Copyright: © 2026 by the authors. Licensee: Pirogov University.
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (CC BY).

REVIEW

Growth factors in medicine: current trends and future prospects

Kalinin EV1 , Chechina PA2 , Yermolaeva SA1,3
About authors

1 Laboratory of Translational Biomedicine,
N. F. Gamaleya Federal Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia

2 Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia

3 Petrovsky Russian Scientific Center for Surgery, Moscow, Russia

Correspondence should be addressed<.b>: Egor V Kalinin
Gamalei St., 18, Moscow, 123098, Russia; ur.kb@roge.ninilak

About paper

Financing: funding from the Russian Scientific Fund 24-45-20006.

Author contribution: Chechina PA — collection and analysis of literature; Kalinin EV — collection and analysis of literature, preparation of the manuscript; Ermolaeva SA — preparation of the manuscript.

Received: 2026-05-29 Accepted: 2026-06-10 Published online: 2026-06-21
|

Growth factors (GFs) are molecules that regulate cellular proliferation, differentiation, migration and survival. The review delves into nine basic families of the molecules and how they are utilized in medicine. The most substantial clinical evidence supporting medical applications has been established for EGF (epidermal growth factor), PDGF (platelet-derived growth factor), and FGF (fibroblast growth factor), which are primarily indicated for the treatment of chronic, non-healing wounds, particularly in patients with diabetes mellitus. Data from recent systematic overviews indicate that EGF yields the highest efficacy in terms of healing rate and complete wound closure. In Russia, an EGF-based pharmaceutical agent (Heberprot-P®) has obtained regulatory approval. It is officially included in national medical recommendations. Globally, approved pharmaceutical analogs incorporating PDGF, FGF, NGF, and proteins are employed to promote bone tissue regeneration. Furthermore, key limitations are addressed: precise delivery of these molecules to target tissues, safety of chronic utilization, and a critical need for further extensive investigations. Novel approaches are explored, such as the screening for substances capable of substituting natural growth factors, as well as combined therapies. The role of these signaling systems in tumorigenesis and development of anti-cancer drugs is also discussed.

Keywords: regenerative medicine, Keywords: growth factors, signaling pathways, receptor tyrosine kinase

КОММЕНТАРИИ (0)