Immunohistochemical staining for transforming growth factor beta 1 associates with disease progression in human breast cancer.
The transforming growth factor beta s (TGF-beta) comprise a family of M(r) 25,000 pluripotent growth factors which have been implicated in the development and progression of human breast cancer. Conflicting data suggest that TGF-beta has the potential to either inhibit or promote the progression of mammary neoplasia. We therefore examined a pathological library of malignant breast biopsy specimens to determine the prevalence and distribution of immunoreactivity with antibodies specific for the three mammalian isoforms of TGF-beta (beta 1, beta 2, and beta 3). We found that intense staining for TGF-beta 1 was positively associated with rate of disease progression, and that this was independent of age, stage, nodal status, or estrogen receptor status (P = 0.009).
Gorsch
S M
SM
Department of Medicine, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755.
Memoli
V A
VA
Stukel
T A
TA
Gold
L I
LI
Arrick
B A
BA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D011817:Rabbits; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology
D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta