Screening of Circulating TGF-β Levels and Its Clinicopathological Significance in Human Breast Cancer

Background: Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-beta 1) participation in breast cancer development and metastasis is well-established, however, the clinical meaning of its circulating levels in women with breast cancer is poorly understood. Aim: To characterize the levels of TGF-beta 1 in plasma from women with breast cancer and to associate them with the main clinical factors associated with disease prognosis. Patients and Methods: TGF-beta 1 levels were measured by Enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Clinicopathological data were also assessed. Results: Women bearing triple-negative tumors presented significantly reduced levels of this cytokine when compared to the other subtypes (p=0.0338). Patients with metastases exhibited lower levels of TGF-beta 1 than the non-metastatic cohort (p=0.0442). Patients with early-onset disease had the highest plasma TGF-beta 1 levels (p=0.0036). Doxorubicin chemotherapy induced a reduction in TGF-beta 1 level, promptly after drug infusion (p=0.0494). Patients with TGF-beta 1 levels lower than 20 pg/ml exhibited a tendency to have a reduced overall survival in a 40-month follow-up. Conclusion: Lower levels of circulating TGF-beta 1 are associated with a poor disease prognosis.