1Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. 2Yonsei Cancer Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. 3Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. 4Department of General Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Transforming Growth Factor-beta1(TGF-beta1) is the most potent inhibitor of the progression of normal mammary epithelial cells through the cell cycle. However, advanced breast cancers are mostly refractory to TGF-beta mediated growth inhibition and produce large amounts of TGF-beta, which may enhance tumor cell invasion and metastasis by its effects on extracellular matrix. Yet, little is known about the association of TGF-beta1 with progression of malignant disease in vivo. In this study, we evaluated the preoperative and postoperative plama level of TGF- in breast cancer and analyzed the utility of plasma TGF-beta1 as possible tumor marker.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: ELISA(enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) was used to measure plasma TGF-beta1 level in 45 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and in 15 normal healthy people, and the results were compared with clinicopathologic characteristics.
RESULTS: The mean plasma TGF-beta1 levels were 1.73+/-0.47 ng/ml in normal people and 5.05+/-1.41 ng/ml in breast cancer patiens. In 37 operated patients, the preoperative plasma TGF-beta1 level was 6.34+/-1.34 ng/ml and decreased to 4.48+/-1.07 ng/ml in patients with follow-up after surgery and 4.74+/-0.79 ng/ml in patients with chemotherapy.
However, there was no significant correlation between plasma TGF-beta1 level and known prognostic factors including tumor size, LN involvement, tumor grade, hormone receptor status, and pathology.
CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the plasma TGF-g level can be a tumor marker in breast cancer patients and the association with progression of breast cancer will be explored in future studies.
PDF Links
Full text via DOI 
Download Citation 
