An elevated serum level of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis in patients with gastric carcinoma

Background: Overexpression of transforming growth factor betas (TGF-betas), multifunctional polypeptides, have been reported in the tissue of various types of carcinomas, including gastric carcinoma. To our knowledge, serum l evels of TGF-beta1 have not previously been examined in patients with gastr ic carcinoma as a possible indicator of prognosis. Methods. Preoperative se rum levels of TGF-beta1 were measured in 111 patients with gastric carcinom a by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: An elevated level of TG F-beta1 was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis and poor pr ognosis. Moreover, the preoperative serum levels of TGF-beta1 in patients w ith peritoneal recurrence were significantly higher than those in patients both with lymph node recurrence and without recurrence. Conclusion: The ser um level of TGF-beta1 might be useful for predicting recurrence patterns an d prognoses in patients with gastric carcinoma.