The analysis of various cell lines revealed the highest EGFR and HB-EGF expression in endothelial cells (human umbilical vessel cells/HUVEC) or T17b cells), followed by the humans HT-29 and mouse CMT93 colorectal cancer cells compared to stromal cell lines human HS-5 and mouse MS-5 cells as determined by quantitative PCR (qPCR) (Fig. 1C, D). Here, HBEGF is linked to colorectal cancer.