title: Transforming growth factor beta 1 overexpression is closely related to invasiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study was aimed to investigate the relationship between plasma transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β(1)) expression and the characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Five hundred and seventy-one patients with HCC were subjected. Plasma TGF-β(1) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at diagnosis and compared in accordance with clinical and radiological characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma TGF-β(1) levels were significantly higher in the diffuse infiltrative type (n = 159) than in the nodular type of HCC (n = 412; 3.94 ± 0.34 vs. 3.79 ± 0.29 log(10) pg/ml; p < 0.001). They were much higher in patients with portal vein thrombosis or extrahepatic metastasis than in those without (3.88 ± 0.34 vs. 3.81 ± 0.29 log(10) pg/ml, p = 0.008; 3.94 ± 0.35 vs. 3.82 ± 0.30 log(10) pg/ml, p = 0.013, respectively). Also, plasma TGF-β(1) levels showed a positive correlation with the size of HCC (r = 0.014, p < 0.001). Additionally, plasma TGF-β(1) levels were inversely related to the survival periods (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TGF-β(1) was overexpressed in invasive types of HCC and it may be involved in the rapid progression of HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Songpa-gu, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Danbi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young-Hwa
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Jeong A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yoon Seon
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Myoung Kuk
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Kang Mo
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young-Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Han Chu
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yung Sang
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta