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.
Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute of Nuclear Sciences Vinća, PO Box 522, 11001, Belgrade, Yugoslavia. vesnai@eunet.yu
Vesna
V
Ivanović
Natasa
N
Todorović-Raković
Miroslav
M
Demajo
Zora
Z
Nesković-Konstantinović
Vesna
V
Subota
Olivera
O
Ivanisević-Milovanović
Dragica
D
Nikolić-Vukosavljević
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