Elevated plasma levels of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) in patients with advanced breast cancer: association with disease progression.
We examined the association between an elevated plasma TGF-beta 1 level and the disease progression of advanced breast cancer (BC) patients (n = 44). TGF-beta 1 levels were detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Platelet carryover and in vitro platelet activation in our plasma samples was assessed and found to be insignificant. Plasma TGF-beta 1 values were significantly elevated (P < 0.05) in stage IIIB/IV patients (median value: 2.40 ng/ml, range: 0.13-8.48 ng/ml, n = 44) compared with healthy donors (median value: 1.30 ng/ml, range: 0.41-4.93 ng/ml, n = 36). Although pronounced in metastatic patients, especially those who had been newly diagnosed, TGF-beta 1 elevation was independent of tumour mass, site of distant metastases, histopathological type, steroid receptor (SR) content and age of the BC patients. Follow-up of 6 patients indicated a relationship between the plasma TGF-beta 1 and the patient's response. This suggests that TGF-beta 1, may be a promising prognostic marker for breast cancer patients with advanced disease. Confirmatory large-scale studies are needed, particularly given the overlap of values between our different subgroups analysed.
Ivanović
Vesna
V
Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute of Nuclear Sciences Vinća, PO Box 522, 11001, Belgrade, Yugoslavia. vesnai@eunet.yu
Todorović-Raković
Natasa
N
Demajo
Miroslav
M
Nesković-Konstantinović
Zora
Z
Subota
Vesna
V
Ivanisević-Milovanović
Olivera
O
Nikolić-Vukosavljević
Dragica
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010978:Platelet Factor 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D017698:Postmenopause; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D010978:Platelet Factor 4