Prognostic Value of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2 Expression and Ki-67 Labelling Index in Prostate Cancer

Chang, Hyug Jun; Kim, Ki Kwon; Lee, Kyung Seop

Abstract

PURPOSE: Transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-beta) is a potent modulator of cell proliferation, differentiation, angiogenesis and immune system. We evaluate the significance of the expression of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 and correlation with Ki-67 as prognostic factors in prostate cancer.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In order to investigate the expression of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2 and Ki-67, we analyzed immunohistochemical staining from paraffin blocks of 22 cases of the prostate carcinoma and adjacent normal prostate.
RESULTS
The TGF-beta1 staining scores of the tumor cells were higher than those of the adjacent normal epithelial cells(p=0.001). The TGF-beta2 staining scores of the tumor cells were also higher than those of the adjacent normal epithelial cells(p=0.003). However no correlation was observed between tumor surrounding stroma and normal stroma in TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 staining scores. The serum PSA level, the clinical stage, the Gleason score and the lymph node metastasis of the tumor was not correlated with the staining score of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2. Ki-67 labelling index(LI) was significantly associated with the histologic grade, while no relationship was observed between Ki-67 LI and clinical stage. TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 staining score was not statistically correlated with the Ki-67 LI.
CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that the prostatic cancer was associated with alteration of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 expression by prostatic epithelial cells which may be biologically important in the development of prostate cancer and TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 expression may be new target of treatment of prostate cancer. Prognostic value of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 expression was not statistically significant but Ki-67 LI was significantly associated with Gleason score.