TGFβ1, TGFβ2, and TGFβ3 protein expression in gastric carcinomas:: Correlation with prognostics factors and patient survival

Background. This study evaluates the expression of transforming growth factors TGF beta 1, TGF beta 2 and TGF beta 3 in cases of gastric carcinoma and their possible correlation with classic prognostic markers and patient survival. Materials and methods. The study included 110 gastrectomy specimens obtained from equal number of patients with gastric cancer. According to the TNM classification, 7 tumors were identified as being stage I, 33 stage II, 52 stage III, and 18 stage IV, whereas 92 tumors were low-grade and 18 high-grade malignancies. On paraffin sections, the streptavidin-biotin technique using antibodies against TGF beta 1, TGF beta 2, and TGF beta 3 was applied. Morphological and immunohistochemical results were correlated with clinicopathologic parameters. Results. TGF beta 1 was expressed in 78 out of 110 (71%) carcinomas, whereas TGF beta 2 and TGF beta 3 were detected in all tumors examined. Normal gastric mucosal epithelial. cells expressed TGF beta 2 and TGF beta 3, but not TGF beta 1. Statistical analysis revealed higher expression of TGF beta 1 in low grade carcinomas (P = 0.009). TGF beta 2 presence was higher in advanced stage tumors (P = 0.008) and was correlated with worse prognosis (P < 0.05). TGF beta 1 expression was related to increased disease-free survival (P < 0.05) while Cox analysis revealed that TGF beta 1 expression constituted an independent prognostic factor. Conclusions. Gastric carcinoma is related to differential expression of TGF beta 1, TGF beta 2, and TGF beta 3. TGF beta 1 may be implicated in the pathogenesis of the tumors, since it is expressed only in neoplastic tissue. TGF beta 1 is related with an increased disease-free and overall survival constituting an independent prognostic factor. In advanced stages, TGF beta 2 seems to be involved in tumor progression related to worse prognosis. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.