title: High level of beta-type transforming growth factor activity in human urine obtained from cancer patients.
abstract: Activity of transforming growth factor (TGF) in urine was examined by the use of cloned BALB/3T3 A31-1-1 indicator cells. When urine was extracted by an acid-ethanol method, fractionated on a Bio-Gel P-100 column, and analyzed for TGF activity, samples from healthy persons showed no activity, but 80% of the samples from advanced cancer patients had the activity. Activity observed in tumor-bearing patients was eliminated after therapy. Further analysis was carried out in a much simpler way by the fractionation of urine samples after only dialysis and lyophilization. An extensive survey of TGF activity in urine using BALB/3T3 indicator cells revealed weak or intermediate (19%) activity in healthy persons and high (56%) or intermediate (31%) activity in advanced cancer patients. When urine samples were analyzed and compared using both BALB/3T3 cells and NRK 49F cells, the BALB/3T3 cells were shown to form colonies in response to beta-type TGF but not to alpha-type TGF. The present results are the first demonstration of an elevated level of beta-type TGF in urine from cancer patients.
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000652:urine*; D010455:Peptides / Q000652:urine*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013997:Time Factors; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors