Elevated plasma transforming growth factor-β1 levels in breast cancer patients decrease after surgical removal of the tumor

FM Kong, MS Anscher, T Murase, BD Abbott… - Annals of …, 1995 - journals.lww.com
FM Kong, MS Anscher, T Murase, BD Abbott, JD Iglehart, RL Jirtle
Annals of surgery, 1995journals.lww.com
Objective: The authors determined whether untreated breast cancer patients have elevated
plasma levels of transforming growth factor-[beta] 1,(TGF-[beta] 1). Summary Background
Data: Increased plasma TGF-[beta] 1 levels recently were found after chemotherapy in
patients with advanced breast cancer. However, it currently is unknown whether this
elevation in plasma TGF-[beta] 1 is caused by chemotherapy-induced normal tissue damage
or whether it results from the presence of the tumor. Methods: An enzyme-linked …
Abstract
Objective: The authors determined whether untreated breast cancer patients have elevated plasma levels of transforming growth factor-[beta] 1,(TGF-[beta] 1).
Summary Background Data: Increased plasma TGF-[beta] 1 levels recently were found after chemotherapy in patients with advanced breast cancer. However, it currently is unknown whether this elevation in plasma TGF-[beta] 1 is caused by chemotherapy-induced normal tissue damage or whether it results from the presence of the tumor.
Methods: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure plasma TGF-[beta] 1 levels in 26 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients before and after definitive surgery. Patients were grouped by postoperative tumor status: 1) negative lymph nodes (group 1); 2) positive lymph nodes (group 2); and 3) overt residual disease (group 3). The site of TGF-[beta] 1 production in the tumors was localized by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization.
Results: Plasma TGF-[beta] 1 levels were elevated preoperatively in 81% of the patients; TGF-[beta] 2 and TGF-[beta] 3 were undetectable. The preoperative TGF-[beta] 1, levels in the three patient groups were similar; however, the postoperative plasma TGF-[beta] 1 levels differed by disease status. The mean plasma TGF-[beta] 1 level in group 1 (n= 12) normalized after surgery (19.3+/-3.2 vs. 5.5+/-1.0 ng/mL, p< 0.001). In contrast, the mean plasma TGF-[beta] 1 levels remained above normal in both group 2 (n= 9) and group 3 (n= 5) after surgery. Transforming growth factor-[beta] 1 expression was found to be preferentially increased in the tumor stroma.
Conclusions: Breast tumors result in increased plasma TGF-[beta] 1 levels in 81% of patients. After surgical removal of the primary tumor, the plasma TGF-[beta] 1 level normalizes in the majority of patients; persistently elevated levels correlate with the presence of lymph node metastases or overt residual tumor.
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins