Plasma levels of transforming growth factor-1beta and alpha2-macroglobulin before and after radical prostatectomy: association to clinicopathological parameters.
BACKGROUND
To study the levels of transforming growth factor-1beta (TGF-beta1) and of alpha2-macroglobulin (alpha2-M), a high affinity binding protein of TGF-beta1, in comparison to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in prostate cancer (PCa) patients before and up to 12 months after prostatectomy, and to correlate the results with clinicopathological parameters.


METHODS
Eighty-one patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for PCa were included in this study. Pre- and postoperatively, plasma levels of TGF-beta1, alpha2-M and PSA were measured in the same samples by ELISA, and were correlated with pathological parameters and clinical outcomes.


RESULTS
The preoperative TGF-beta1 levels were significantly elevated as compared to the controls; they showed a positive correlation with the Gleason score. Patients with initial androgen-deprivation therapy had lower TGF-beta1 levels than untreated patients. Elevated concentrations of TGF-beta1 levelled off 12 months after prostatectomy approaching values of healthy individuals. Decreased plasma levels of total and transformed alpha2-M (proteinase-complexed form) were observed in PCa. Preoperative levels of TGF-beta1 but not of alpha2-M seem to be influenced by the body mass index (BMI).


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated TGF-beta1 and decreased alpha2-M were consistently found in patients with PCa, and may be considered as risk factors for tumor development and progression. In comparison to PSA, the TGF-beta1 levels displayed a slow decline after radical prostatectomy; this indicates that TGF-beta1 is mainly produced outside the prostatic tissue. Since TGF-beta1 levels are influenced by the BMI, this indicates that PCa might be sensitive to diet.
Sinnreich
O
O
Department of Urology, St. Georg Hospital, Leipzig, Germany.
Kratzsch
J
J
Reichenbach
A
A
Gläser
C
C
Huse
K
K
Birkenmeier
G
G
D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D000511:alpha-Macroglobulins; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen