title: Transforming growth factor beta1 and soluble Fas serum levels in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: In this study we assessed the usefulness of serum Transforming Growth Factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and soluble Fas (sFas) in distinguishing liver cirrhosis (LC) with and without hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as compared with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Serum TGF-beta1 and sFas levels were measured by ELISA in 51 LC patients, 54 patients with HCC and 30 healthy donors. Considering as a cut-off limit (mean+1SD of controls) 74 pg/ml and 637 pg/ml for TGF-beta1 and sFas, respectively, we computed serum concentrations of TGF-beta1 and sFas as a score (mean+/-SD). The positive frequency of serum TGF-beta1 levels in HCC patients (54%) was greater than in LC patients (26%) and healthy donors (3%). TGF-beta1 levels were higher in HCC (1.6+/-0.5) than in LC (1.1+/-0.2) (P<0.0001) and healthy donors (0.6+/-0.2). Using a cut-off limit of 82 pg/ml (mean+2SD), the positive frequency of TGF-beta1 was 20% in HCC patients. None of the controls and LC patients had TGF-beta1 levels higher than 82 pg/ml. The positive frequency of serum sFas levels was 100% in HCC patients, 98% in LC patients and 3% in healthy controls. Serum sFas levels were higher in HCC (2.5+/-0.7) than in LC (1.9+/-0.5) (P<0. 001) and healthy donors (0.6+/-0.3). No significant change of positive frequency was obtained by setting sFas cut-off at higher levels. sFas values did not correlate with TGF-beta1 levels. No relationship was found between TGF-beta1 amounts and AFP levels. However, in the 23% of HCC patients, with normal AFP values TGF-beta1 levels were higher than the cut off. These findings suggest the potential usefulness for TGF-beta1 assay in AFP-negative HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Bari Medical School, Policlinico, Bari, 70124, Italy. saccorodolfo@hotmail.com
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leuci
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tortorella
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fiore
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marinosci
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schiraldi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Antonaci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D019014:fas Receptor