Abstract
To assess the clinical relevance of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), urinary TGF-beta1 and serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were determined in 94 patients with cirrhotic HCC, 94 age- and sex-matched patients with cirrhosis alone and 50 healthy adults. TGF-beta1 level in HCC was higher than in cirrhosis alone or in healthy controls (each P = 0.0001). There is an inverse correlation between TGF-beta1 and AFP levels (r = -0.292, P = 0.004). Significantly higher TGF-beta1 level was found in HCC patients with worsening Child-Pugh stages, diffuse HCC, tumour size > 3 cm, multilobular tumour and AFP < or = 20 ng ml(-1). TGF-beta1 level decreased after complete treatment with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (P = 0.0001). The median survival in HCC patients with raised TGF-beta1 was shorter than those with normal TGF-beta1 (P = 0.018). Multivariate analysis indicated that TGF-beta1 and AFP were significantly correlated with the presence of HCC. In addition, TGF-beta1 could be used as a diagnostic marker for HCC, particularly in tumours with low AFP production. In conclusion, elevated urinary TGF-beta1 level is a tumour marker and predictor of poor survival for cirrhotic HCC.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 24 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $10.79 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tsai, J., Jeng, J., Chuang, L. et al. Elevated urinary transforming growth factor-β1 level as a tumour marker and predictor of poor survival in cirrhotic hepatocellular carcinoma. Br J Cancer 76, 244–250 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1997.369
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1997.369
This article is cited by
-
Advances in immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma
Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology (2021)
-
α-Fetoprotein (AFP)-L3% and transforming growth factor B1 (TGFB1) in prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma after radiofrequency
Egyptian Liver Journal (2019)
-
Pharmacological targets of breast cancer stem cells: a review
Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology (2018)
-
EPMA position paper in cancer: current overview and future perspectives
EPMA Journal (2015)
-
TGF-β1-induced expression of Id-1 is associated with tumor progression in gastric cancer
Medical Oncology (2014)