Circulating transforming growth factor-β and epidermal growth factor receptor as related to virus infection in liver carcinogenesis.
BACKGROUND
The aim of our study was to improve the detection of HCC by measuring alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in addition to other molecular markers by estimating the plasma concentration of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In particular, the role of hepatitis C and B viruses (HCV and HBV) infection was evaluated with relation to TGF-β and EGFR plasma concentration.


METHODS
Eighty-five patients with liver disease, 54 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 16 with liver metastasis (LM), 15 with liver cirrhosis (LC) and 30 healthy volunteers were evaluated. AFP, TGF-β and EGFR were detected with enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) in plasma of all study participants.


RESULTS
The mean values of TGF-β and EGFR in all patients were much higher than in control group, p<0.0001. In HCC patients the levels of TGF-β and EGFR were much higher than in LM and LC patients. Moreover, TGF-β and EGFR were significantly higher in the presence of both viruses or only in the presence of HCV, p=0.002. No decrease or increase of AFP was noted in these patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest the reliability of TGF-β and EGFR in detecting HCC, in particular when the carcinogenesis is affected by virus infection.
Department of Experimantal Oncology, Clinical Pathology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute Giovanni Paolo II, Viale Orazio Flacco, 65, 70100, Bari, Italy. rosadive@inwind.it
Rosa
R
Divella
Antonella
A
Daniele
Cosimo
C
Gadaleta
Antonio
A
Tufaro
Maria Teresa
MT
Venneri
Angelo
A
Paradiso
Michele
M
Quaranta
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors