SERUM TRANSFORMING GROWTH-FACTOR-BETA-1 IN PATIENTS WITH RENAL-CELL CARCINOMA

Purpose: A major problem of renal cell carcinoma is the prediction of metastases via tumor prognostic markers. Therefore, much effort has be en committed to the development of new prognostic markers. Materials a nd Methods: The level of transforming growth factor-pi was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serum samples collected from pat ients with renal cell carcinoma before radical nephrectomy. Results: I n serum samples from 21 patients with renal. cell carcinoma and 21 hea lthy controls mean transforming growth factor-beta 1 levels were 177 /- 54.1 versus 65.6 +/- 15.8 ng./ml., respectively. This difference wa s statistically significant (Mann-Whitney U test p <0.001). Conclusion s: Increased levels of transforming growth factor-beta 1 are common in serum of patients with renal cell carcinoma.