title: Serum levels of transforming growth factor beta1 in patients with breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) may be related to breast cancer progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty consecutive patients with invasive breast cancer undergoing surgery were prospectively included and evaluated. The control group consisted of 14 patients with benign breast tumors (7 with fibrocystic disease and 7 with fibroadenoma).
  
  
  METHODS
  Venous blood samples were collected before the surgery. Sera were obtained by centrifugation and stored at -70 degrees C until assayed. Serum concentrations of TGF-beta1 were measured by quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Data on primary tumor stage, age, estrogen receptor status, lymph node status, distant metastases, and TNM staging (according to the Union Internationale Contre le Cancer) were reviewed and recorded.
  
  
  METHODS
  Measurements of preoperative serum TGF-beta1 levels in patients with breast cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean +/- SD value of serum TGF-beta1 in patients with invasive breast cancer was 498.7 +/- 249.7 pg/mL and in the control group was 495.2 +/- 225.5 pg/mL (P =.96). However, there were significantly higher serum levels of TGF-beta1 in patients with more advanced lymph node status (P =.04), more advanced TNM stage (P =.005), and poorer histological grade (P =.02). In multivariate analysis, TNM staging (P =.02) was demonstrated to be the independent factor related to significantly higher serum levels of TGF-beta1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with more advanced TNM stages were shown to have higher serum TGF-beta1 levels. Thus, serum TGF-beta1 levels may reflect the severity of invasive breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, 123 Ta-Pei Rd, Niao-Sung Hsiang, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan. smsheen@yahoo.com
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sheen-Chen
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Sheen
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Eng
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1