RELATIONSHIP OF TRANSFORMING GROWTH-FACTOR BETA(1) TO EXTRACELLULAR-MATRIX AND STROMAL INFILTRATES IN INVASIVE BREAST-CARCINOMA

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) comprises a group of multif unctional regulatory proteins, whose effects include stimulation of ex tracellular matrix formation and modification of immune function. The presence of TGF-beta(1) and TGF-B-2 in invasive breast carcinomas has been determined and related to pathological features, the presence of fibronectin and tenascin and lymphocyte/macrophage infiltration, using immunohistochemistry. Differences were observed in the extent of reac tivity within the same carcinoma and between tumours stained with an a ntibody detecting TGF-beta(1) and one detecting TGF-beta(1) plus TGF-b eta(2), the latter having a higher level of reactivity. Prominent reac tivity for TGF-beta(1), was associated with lymph node metastasis, (0. 02 > P> 0.01), increased detection of cellular fibronectin, fine strom al fibronectin staining, more prominent reactivity for tenascin (0.02> P> 0.01), the presence of tumour-associated macrophage infiltration a nd altered ratios of CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte populations, with CD8 lymp hocytes predominating. These associations were not observed for carcin omas showing prominent staining with antibody detecting TGF-beta(2) as well as TGF-beta(1). The findings indicate that TGF-beta(1) may have a role in invasion and metastasis of breast carcinomas.