Serum transforming growth factor-β1 level reflects disease status in patients with esophageal carcinoma after radiotherapy

AIM: To evaluate the relationship between changes in serum transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF beta 1) level and curative effect of radiotherapy (RT) in patients with esophageal carcinoma. METHODS: Ninety patients with histologically confirmed esophageal carcinoma were enrolled. Serum samples for TGF beta 1 analysis were obtained before and at the end of RT. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure serum TGF beta 1 level. Multivariate analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between disease status and changes in serum TGF beta 1 level. RESULTS: Serum TGF beta 1 level in patients with esophageal carcinoma before RT was significantly higher than that in healthy controls (P < 0.001). At the end of RT, serum TGF beta 1 level was decreased in 67.82% (59/87) of the patients. The overall survival rate at 1, 3 and 5 years was 48.28% (42/87), 19.54% (17/87) and 12.64% (11/87), respectively. Main causes of death were local failure and regional lymph node metastasis. In patients whose serum TGF beta 1 level decreased after RT, the survival rate at 1, 3 and 5 years was 61.02% (36/59), 28.81% (17/59) and 18.64% (11/59), respectively. The survival rate at 1 year was 17.86% (5/28) in patients whose serum TGF beta 1 level increased after RT, and all died within 18 mo (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Serum TGF beta 1 level may be a useful marker for monitoring disease status after RT in patients with esophageal carcinoma. (C) 2007 WJG. All rights reserved.