The mechanisms by which growth factors elicit their cellular effects include the rapid transcriptional activation of a set of genes. In the past five years much has been learned of the number, identity and even function of these genetic messengers and has begun to provide a molecular basis for certain growth factor responses. The identification and characterisation of the nuclear transcription factors that stimulate expression of these genes has established the involvement of several nuclear oncogenes underscoring the importance of subversion of normal signal transduction pathways in neoplasia. Some of the immediate early genes themselves are trans-activators, participating in a cascade of gene induction. The current pace of progress should, in the next few years, bridge the remaining gap between the growth factor receptors and the nuclear transcription factors.