Posttreatment plasma transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta1) level predicts for late morbidity in patients with advanced head and neck cancer

Between 2001 and 2002, 29 patients with advanced inoperable squamous head and neck cancer treated with radiotherapy with or without simultaneous chemotherapy were evaluated for their plasma TGF-beta 1 levels prior to the treatment, in the middle of the radiotherapy course and at the end of the treatment. Patients were assessed for treatment response and late morbidity. Predictive value of TGF-beta 1 level on either of the assessed parameters was tested. From 29 eligible patients (pts), 18 achieved complete response, 8 partial response and three pts progressed primarily. After a median follow-up of 16 months we recorded 16 cases of grade > 1 late morbidity. We found that posttreatment elevated plasma TGF-beta 1 level predicts late morbidity grade > 1 (p=0.05) rather than pretreatment level (p=0.062). Neither pretreatment nor posttreatment plasma TGF-beta 1 level has a predictive value to the treatment response (CR vs. no CR, p=0.125 and 0.252, respectively). The posttreatment plasma TGF-beta 1 level can predict late morbidity grade > 1 in advanced head and neck cancer treated with radio(chemo)therapy. This could make a basis for dose escalation in selected patients.