Positive correlation of plasma transforming growth factor-β1 levels with tumor vascularity in hepatocellular carcinoma

N Ito, S Kawata, S Tamura, Y Shirai, S Kiso… - Cancer letters, 1995 - Elsevier
N Ito, S Kawata, S Tamura, Y Shirai, S Kiso, H Tsushima, Y Matsuzawa
Cancer letters, 1995Elsevier
Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) has been implicated in tumor progression by
promoting angiogenesis or suppressing immune system. We reported previously that
transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is overproduced by human hepatocellular carcinoma
(HCC) tissues and that plasma TGF-β1 levels are elevated in patients with HCC. In the
present study, we investigated the relationship between plasma TGF-β1 levels and tumor
vascularity as assessed by conventional celiac angiography in 17 patients with HCC. The …
Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) has been implicated in tumor progression by promoting angiogenesis or suppressing immune system. We reported previously that transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is overproduced by human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and that plasma TGF-β1 levels are elevated in patients with HCC. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between plasma TGF-β1 levels and tumor vascularity as assessed by conventional celiac angiography in 17 patients with HCC. The plasma TGF-β1 level did not correlate with tumor size or underlying liver disease. However, we found that plasma TGF-β1 levels correlated positively with the tumor vascularity. These results suggest that excessive TGF-β1 production may contribute to tumor angiogenesis in HCC.
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