Pretreatment plasma TGF beta 1 levels are prognostic for survival but not morbidity following radiation therapy of carcinoma of the cervix.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether pretreatment plasma-transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) levels are prognostic for tumor control and late morbidity following radiation therapy in carcinoma of the cervix.


METHODS
The study was comprised of 79 patients undergoing radiotherapy with curative intent for Stage I-III carcinoma of the cervix. TGF beta 1 levels were analyzed using ELISA. Late morbidity was measured using the Franco-Italian glossary. Data were available for the pretreatment levels of circulating tumor markers that represent disease burden, and for peripheral blood lymphocyte radiosensitivity measured as SF2.


RESULTS
Pretreatment TGF beta 1 levels were a significant prognostic factor for survival and local control. There were weak significant correlations of TGF beta 1 levels with disease stage and the levels of circulating tumor markers (CA125, TPA). There was a weak significant correlation between TGF beta 1 levels and normal cell radiosensitivity (lymphocyte SF2). There was no relationship between TGF beta 1 levels and grade of morbidity and pretreatment TGF beta 1 levels were not a significant prognostic factor for the probability of developing late morbidity.


CONCLUSIONS
In carcinoma of the cervix, pretreatment TGF beta 1 levels reflect tumor burden and are a significant prognostic factor for survival. Despite an underlying weak relationship of TGF beta 1 levels with intrinsic normal cell radiosensitivity, pretreatment levels are not prognostic for the probability of developing late complications. This finding does not rule out the possible usefulness of measurements toward the end of treatment once tumor burden has been reduced.
Dickson
J
J
CRC Experimental Radiation Oncology Group, Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Davidson
S E
SE
Hunter
R D
RD
West
C M
CM
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000528:radiation effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019396:Tissue Polypeptide Antigen / Q000097:blood; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D019396:Tissue Polypeptide Antigen; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1