title: Positive correlation of plasma transforming growth factor-beta 1 levels with tumor vascularity in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) has been implicated in tumor progression by promoting angiogenesis or suppressing immune system. We reported previously that transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) is overproduced by human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and that plasma TGF-beta 1 levels are elevated in patients with HCC. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between plasma TGF-beta 1 levels and tumor vascularity as assessed by conventional celiac angiography in 17 patients with HCC. The plasma TGF-beta 1 level did not correlate with tumor size or underlying liver disease. However, we found that plasma TGF-beta 1 levels correlated positively with the tumor vascularity. These results suggest that excessive TGF-beta 1 production may contribute to tumor angiogenesis in HCC.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka, University Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawata
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shirai
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kiso
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsushima
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuzawa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta