title: The additional value of TGFβ1 and IL-7 to predict the course of prostate cancer progression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Given the fact that prostate cancer incidence will increase in the coming years, new prognostic biomarkers are needed with regard to the biological aggressiveness of the prostate cancer diagnosed. Since cytokines have been associated with the biology of cancer and its prognosis, we determined whether transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1), interleukin-7 (IL-7) receptor and IL-7 levels add additional prognostic information with regard to prostate cancer-specific survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective survival analysis of forty-four prostate cancer patients, that underwent radical prostatectomy, was performed (1989-2001). Age, Gleason score and pre-treatment PSA levels were collected. IL-7, IL-7 receptor and TGFβ1 levels in prostate cancer tissue were determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR and their additional prognostic value analyzed with regard to prostate cancer survival. Hazard ratios and their confidence intervals were estimated, and Akaike's information criterion was calculated for model comparison.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The predictive ability of a model for prostate cancer survival more than doubled when TGFβ1 and IL-7 were added to a model containing only the Gleason score and pre-treatment PSA (AIC: 18.1 and AIC: 6.5, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-7 and TGFβ1 are promising markers to indicate those at risk for poor prostate cancer survival. This additional information may be of interest with regard to the biological aggressiveness of the diagnosed prostate cancer, especially for those patients screened for prostate cancer and their considered therapy.
authors: Department of Urology, Erasmus MC, Gravendijkwal 230, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. schroten@ikr.nl
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Schroten
authors: Natasja F
authors: NF
authors: Dits
authors: Ewout W
authors: EW
authors: Steyerberg
authors: Ries
authors: R
authors: Kranse
authors: Arno G J L H
authors: AG
authors: van Leenders
authors: Chris H
authors: CH
authors: Bangma
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Kraaij
mesh_terms: D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015851:Interleukin-7; D020395:Receptors, Interleukin-7; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1