Roles of the transforming growth factor beta 1 and its type I and II receptors in the development of a pulmonary adenocarcinoma: results of an immunohistochemical study.
BACKGROUND
In the United States, pulmonary adenocarcinomas have recently replaced squamous cell carcinomas as the most frequent type of lung cancer encountered. The incidence of pulmonary adenocarcinoma continued to increase worldwide.


METHODS
To determine the roles of the transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), and TGF-beta type I receptor (T beta R-I), and the TGF-beta type II receptor (T beta R-II) in the progression of a pulmonary adenocarcinoma, their respective expressions have been immunohistologically studied in specimens from 120 pulmonary adenocarcinoma patients.


RESULTS
The overall prognosis was significantly poorer for patients showing positive TGF-beta 1, T beta R-I, T beta R-II expressions than for patients who were negative to all three immunostainings (P < 0.01). Our multivariate analysis also revealed that a positive TGF-beta 1 response significantly affect prognosis (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
TGF-beta 1, T beta R-I, and T beta R-II play important roles in tumor progression, and a positive TGF-beta 1 expression can serve as a pulmonary adenocarcinoma marker. T beta R-I and T beta R-II expressions are necessary for TGF-beta signal transduction.
Takanami
I
I
First Department of Surgery, Taikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Tanaka
F
F
Hashizume
T
T
Kodaira
S
S
D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II