Page 302 - Read Online

Kohla et al. Hepatoma Res 2017;3:294-301 Hepatoma Research
DOI: 10.20517/2394-5079.2017.40
www.hrjournal.net
Original Article Open Access

Association of serum levels of transforming

growth factor b1 with disease severity in

patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Mohamed Ahmed Samy Kohla , Ahmed Attia , Nehad Darwesh , Manar Obada , Hossam Taha , Marwa F. Youssef 4
2
3
1
1
1
1 Departments of Hepatology, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Shebeen Al-Kom 32511, Egypt.
2 Departments of Oncology, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Shebeen Al-Kom 32511, Egypt.
3 Departments of Clinical Biochemistry, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Shebeen Al-Kom 32511, Egypt.
4 Departments of Epidemiology, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Shebeen Al-Kom 32511, Egypt.
Correspondence to: Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Samy Kohla, Department of Hepatology, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Shebeen Al-Kom
32511, Egypt. E-mail: dr_mohamedsamy@yahoo.com
How to cite this article: Kohla MAS, Attia A, Darwesh N, Obada M, Taha H, Youssef MF. Association of serum levels of transforming growth factor
β1 with disease severity in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatoma Res 2017;3:294-301.
ABSTRACT

Article history: Aim: Transforming growth factor (TGF) is overexpressed by tumor cells like other proteins
Received: 30 Sep 2017 and growth factors. TGF-β1 is then activated in the extracellular compartment but is unable
First Decision: 9 Oct 2017 to control cell proliferation because of the absence or low level of TGF-β1 receptors on the
Revised: 28 Oct 2017 plasma membrane of malignant hepatocytes. This potential mechanism might interrupt the
autocrine regulation loop of TGF-β1 and its blocking effect on cell proliferation. TGF-β1 is
Accepted: 30 Oct 2017 a multifunctional cytokine involved in the regulation of growth and differentiation of both
Published: 12 Dec 2017
normal and transformed cells. This study aimed to evaluate the association of serum levels
Key words: of TGF-β1 with disease severity. Methods: A total of 180 subjects were classified into 6
Transforming growth factor β1, groups according to Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) classification, 30 patients each:
hepatocellular carcinoma, early (BCLC 0 and A), intermediate (BCLC B), advanced stage (BCLC C), and terminal
disease severity, stage (BCLC D) of hepatocellular carcinoma as well as 1 group of patients with cirrhosis
Egyptian patients only and 1 control group. Serum levels of TGF β1 were measured. Results: Serum levels
of TGF-β1 were significantly higher in patients with HCC (1,687.47 ± 1,462.81 pg/mL) than
cirrhotics (487.98 ± 344.23 pg/mL, P < 0.001) and controls (250.16 ± 284.61 pg/mL, P <
0.001). Conclusion: TGF-β1 may have a role in tumor growth and progression.

INTRODUCTION hepatitis C virus (HCV), making up approximately
75%-85% of all cases, as well as excessive alcohol
Liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer, the consumption, which is responsible for about 40% of
third cause of cancer related deaths, and accounts HCC development in Western countries . Chronic
[2]
[1]
for 7% of all cancers . The main risk factors inflammation and tissue damage by these agents
for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are chronic leads to cirrhosis which is the underlying condition
[3]
infections with either hepatitis B virus (HBV) or for the majority of HCC cases . Early detection and
Quick Response Code:
This is an open access article licensed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution,
and reproduction in any medium, as long as the original author is credited and the new creations are licensed under the
identical terms.
For reprints contact: service@oaepublish.com

294 © The author(s) 2017 www.oaepublish.com