Clinical and prognostic significance of serum transforming growth factor-beta1 levels in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

• Published in: Brazilian journal of medical and biological research Vol. 49; no. 8
• Main Authors: Zhao, J., Liang, Y., Yin, Q., Liu, S., Wang, Q., Tang, Y., Cao, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Associacao Brasileira de Divulgacao Cientifica (ABDC) 25.07.2016; Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma; BIOLOGY; Biomarkers, Tumor - blood; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal - blood; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal - diagnosis; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal - secondary; Clinical Investigation; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Marker; MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL; Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma; Pancreatic Neoplasms - blood; Pancreatic Neoplasms - diagnosis; Pancreatic Neoplasms - secondary; Prognosis; Retrospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; TGF-β1; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 - blood; Transforming growth factors; TGF-β1; Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma; Marker
• ISSN: 0100-879X; 1414-431X; 1414-431X
• DOI: 10.1590/1414-431x20165485

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a poor 5-year survival rate of 5%. Biomarkers for the early detection of pancreatic cancer are urgently needed. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) is elevated in the tissues and plasma of patients with PDAC. However, no studies systemically report prognostic significance of plasma TGF-β1 levels in PDAC. In the present study, we assessed the prognostic significance of serum TGF-β levels in patients with PDAC. TGF-β levels were determined in serum from 146 PDAC patients, and 58 patients with benign pancreatic conditions. Regression models were used to correlate TGF-β levels to gender, age, stage, class, and metastasis. Survival analyses were performed using multivariate Cox models. Serum levels of TGF-β1 distinguished PDAC from benign pancreatic conditions (P<0.001) and healthy control subjects (P<0.001). Serum levels of TGF-β also distinguished tumor stage (P=0.002) and lymph node metastasis (P=0.001). High serum levels of TGF-β1 were significantly correlated with reduced patient survival. Multivariate analysis revealed that TGF-β1, lymph node metastasis and tumor stage were independent factors for PDAC survival. Our results indicate that serum TGF-β1 may be used as a potential prognostic marker for PDAC.