ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Many investigators have found transforming growth factor-1 (TGF-1) to be elevated in tumors. Changes in responsiveness to TGF-1 have been linked to malignant transformation, tumor progression and tumor regression. Many malignant cell lines of epithelial or hematopoietic origin are refractory to the antiproliferative effects of TGF-1. However, a little is known about the association of TGF-1 with progression of malignant tumor. METHODS: In this study, we measured the plasma level of TGF-1 in various cancer patients and evaluated the utility of plasma TGF-1 as a possible tumor marker. Plasma TGF-1 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in cancer patients and normal controls. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) as tumor marker were compared with TGF-1 in the aspects of sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: The mean of plasma TGF-1 levels was 1.2 19 +/-0.834 ng/ml in normal controls, 5.491 +/-3.598 ng/ml in breast cancer, 12.670 +/-10.386 ng/ml in lung cancer, 5.747 +/-3.228 ng/ml in hepatocellular carcinoma and 10.854 +/-7.996 ng/ml in cervical cancer. In comparison with CEA and AFP, TGF-1 is more sensitive. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the high levels of TGF-1 are common in the plasma of cancer patients. These result s suggest that the plasma TGF-1 level can be a potent tumor marker in various cancer patients.
Subject(s)
Humans , alpha-Fetoproteins , Breast Neoplasms , Carcinoembryonic Antigen , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular , Cell Line , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Lung Neoplasms , Plasma , Research Personnel , Sensitivity and Specificity , Uterine Cervical NeoplasmsABSTRACT
No abstract available.
Subject(s)
Plasma , Prostate , Prostatic Neoplasms , Stomach NeoplasmsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Many kinds of malignant tissues, including colorectal cancer were reported to overexpress transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) gene. However, little work has been done on the circulating TGF-beta1 and the association of TGF-beta1 with progression in patients with malignant tumors. In this study, we measured the plasma level of TGF-beta1 in colorectal cancer patients. METHODS: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure plasma TGF-beta1 level in 52 colorectal cancer patients and 290 normal controls. And carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as a tumor marker was compared with TGF-beta1 in the aspects of sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: The mean plasma TGF-beta1 levels were 1.219 +/- 0.834 (0.272~5.772) ng/mL in normal control and 8.207 +/- 2.428 (1.392~39.241) ng/mL in colorectal cancer. In comparison with CEA, TGF-beta1 is more potent in cancer diagnostic sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the plasma TGF-beta1 level can be a useful tumor marker in colorectal cancer patients.