Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is a preoperative prognostic indicator in advanced gastric carcinoma

Abstract

Summary It has been generally accepted that transforming growth factor 31 (TGF-j1l) has both negative and positive effects on tumour growth and progression. This study analysed the prognostic value of TGF-1l mRNA in advanced gastric carcinoma. A reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis (RT-PCR) was used for TGF-J1 in endoscopic biopsy specimens from 42 advanced gastric carcinomas. Thirty specimens expressed TGF-p1 mRNA while 12 specimens did not. The follow-up duration ranged from 4 to 37 months (mean 22.8 months). TGF-31 -positive group demonstrated a shorter overall survival compared with the TGF-p1 -negative group (P= 0.0014).A significant correlation was also found in the 32 patients who underwent curative resection (P = 0.0048). Significant correlations were found between TGF-41 mRNA expression and both stage (P= 0.0015) and nodal involvement (P= 0.0060). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that only TGF-31 mRNA expression (P = 0.0306) was an independent prognostic factor. All of ten patients who underwent non-curative resection expressed TGF-41 mRNA. Expression of TGF-I1 mRNA in gastric biopsy specimens may be an important preoperative prognostic variable for advanced gastric carcinoma.

Expression of transforming growth factor beta-1 in gastric cancer and in the gastric mucosa of first-degree relatives of patients with gastric cancer

“…Enhanced expression of TGF-β1 has also been reported in gastric cancers and in the fibrosis associated with scirrhous gastric carcinoma (Mahara et al, 1994;Naef et al, 1997). Furthermore, the expression of TGF-β1 in advanced gastric cancers is also associated with a shorter survival of these patients (Nakamura et al, 1998). The mechanism of TGF-β1 function in these cancers is believed to be mediated primarily by the stimulation of the extracellular matrix and suppression of an adequate immunological response.…”

Tissue level, activation and cellular localisation of TGF-β1 and association with survival in gastric cancer patients

“…Numerous studies have shown the involvement of TGF-b1 in different types of cancer, including gastric, colorectal and breast cancer (Naef et al, 1997;Nakamura et al, 1998;Maehara et al, 1999;Saito et al, 1999;Desruisseau et al, 2006). Most of these studies assessed tissue TGF-b1 levels by mRNA expression, immunohistochemistry or serum TGF-b1 levels, which give either less information on the actual protein levels, are difficult to quantify or do not reflect local effects.…”

“…Immunohistochemical studies showed TGF-b expression in tumour cells (Naef et al, 1997;Park et al, 1997;Maehara et al, 1999;Saito et al, 1999) and sporadic in fibroblasts (Naef et al, 1997). Positive TGF-b1 immunostaining was found to be related to invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer (Nakamura et al, 1998;Maehara et al, 1999). Finally, gastric cancer patients showed strongly increased tissue TGF-b1 levels and, unexpectedly, reduced serum TGF-b1 levels .…”

Association between the TGFB1 -509C/T and TGFBR2 -875A/G polymorphisms and gastric cancer: a case-control study

“…Although studies have shown that TGFβ1 expression is closely linked to the prognosis of gastric cancer (26,27), neither the polymorphisms of TGFB1 -509C/T and TGFBR2 -875A/G nor the combination of the two SNPs revealed a correlation with patient survival in this study, consistent with the study in the uS population (11). A possible explanation is that overall survival is determined, not only by factors involved in gastric cancer disease activity, but also by underlying diseases and other complications.…”