Elevated serum levels of transforming growth factor-β1 in patients with colorectal carcinoma : Its association with tumor progression and its significant decrease after curative surgical resection
✍ Scribed by Kang Sup Shim; Kwang Ho Kim; Woon Sup Han; Eung Bum Park
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1999
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 138 KB
- Volume
- 85
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0008-543X
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✦ Synopsis
Background:
Transforming growth factor-beta1 (tgf-beta1) acts as a potent inhibitor of cell growth and tumor progression but loss of this negative regulation can contribute to tumor development. some studies have reported an association between disease progression and tgf-beta1 expression in patients with colorectal carcinoma, but their results were not always consistent.
Methods:
Serum levels of tgf-beta1 were measured using an enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay in 121 consecutive patients with colorectal carcinoma and compared with tgf-beta1 serum levels in 31 healthy volunteers. serum levels of tgf-beta1 also were measured in 50 patients who underwent curative surgical resection (part of the 121 preoperative patients) to compare their levels with preoperative serum levels of tgf-beta1.
Results:
Serum levels of tgf-beta1 in patients with colorectal carcinoma (45+/-15 ng/ml) (mean+/-the standard deviation) were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group (32+/-4 ng/ml) (p = 0.001). serum levels of tgf-beta1 increased with increasing tumor stage (p < 0.01). serum levels of tgf-beta1 were correlated significantly with depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (cea). serum levels of tgf-beta1 tended to increase with increasing cea (correlation coefficient = 0.21; p < 0.05). the mean serum level of tgf-beta1 in patients with colorectal carcinoma before surgery (45+/-14 ng/ml) (n = 50) significantly decreased to 34+/-7 ng/ml, which was within the normal range (32+/-4 ng/ml), after curative surgical resection of the tumor (p = 0.0000). serum levels of tgf-beta1 after tumor resection decreased more significantly in patients with higher preoperative levels of tgf-beta1 (from 53+/-12 ng/ml to 36+/-6 ng/ml) (n = 30).
Conclusions:
The results of the current study suggest that serum levels of tgf-beta1 in colorectal carcinoma patients may be associated with disease progression and may be used as a biomarker in the management of colorectal carcinoma patients. the authors believe further studies with a large number of patients for a longer follow-up period are necessary to conclude whether serum levels of tgf-beta1 carry significant clinical relevance.