JOURNAL OF ISTANBUL FACULTY OF MEDICINE-ISTANBUL TIP FAKULTESI DERGISI, sa.1, ss.9-15, 2016 (ESCI)
Objective: The transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) is a regulatory cytokine in many tumors. In this study, we aimed to determine the clinical significance of serum TGF-beta 1 levels in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA). Materials and Methods: Thirty-three patients with a histopathologically confirmed PA diagnosis and sex-and agematched 30 healthy controls were included into the current study. Serum TGF-beta 1 levels were measured using the ELISA method. Results: Median age was 59 (range, 32-84). Of the patients, 61% were male, 70% had good performance status, and 68% had tumors localized at the head of the pancreas. Pancreaticoduodenectomy and palliative surgery were performed in 5 (15%) and 4 (12%) of the 9 (27%) patients who underwent surgical procedure. Serum TGF-beta 1 levels were found to be significantly higher in patients compared with the control group (p< 0.001). A significant correlation between serum TGF-beta 1 levels and clinico-pathological parameters including age, gender, performance status, tumor locatization, tumor size, metastasis, chemotherapy response, and laboratory parameters was not detected (p> 0.05). High TGF-beta 1 levels seems to predict better survival (p= 0.09) although it was not found significant. Conclusions: Serum TGF-beta 1 level is a diagnostic biomarker for patients with PA. However, it has neither predictive nor prognostic value in this group of patients.