Large Intestinal Cancer
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2002. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 15, 2002; 8(3): 496-498
Published online Jun 15, 2002. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v8.i3.496
TGF-β1 expression and angiogenesis in colorectal cancer tissue
Bin Xiong, Ling-Ling Gong, Feng Zhang, Ming-Bo Hu, Hong-Yin Yuan
Bin Xiong, Ling-Ling Gong, Feng Zhang, Ming-Bo Hu, Hong-Yin Yuan, Department of Oncology, Affiliated Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by Hubei province Natural Science Foundation, No. 2000J054
Correspondence to: Dr. Bin Xiong, Department of Oncology, Affiliated Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei, Provice, China. xbxh@public.wh.hb.cn
Telephone: +86-27-87325716
Received: July 19, 2001
Revised: August 2, 2001
Accepted: August 23, 2001
Published online: June 15, 2002
Abstract

AIM: Transforming growth factor (TGF) β1 is involved in a variety of important cellular functions, including cell growth and differentiation, angiogenesis, immune function and extracellular matrix formation. However, the role of TGF-β1 as an angiogenic factor in colorectal cancer is still unclear. We investigate the relationship between transforming growth factor β1 and angiogenesis by analyzing the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF) β1 in colorectal cancer, as well as its association with VEGF and MVD.

METHODS: The expression of TGF-β1, VEGF, as well as MVD were detected in 98 colorectal cancer by immunohistochemical staining. The relationship between the TGF-β1 expression and VEGF expression, MVD was evaluated. To evaluate the effect of TGF-β1 on the angiogenesis of colorectal cancers.

RESULTS: Among 98 cases of colorectal cancer, 37 were positive for TGF-β1 (37.8%), 36 for VEGF (36.7%), respectively. The microvessel counts ranged from 19 to 139.8, with a mean of 48.7 (standard deviation, 21.8). The expression of TGF-β1 was correlated significantly with the depth of invasion, stage of disease, lymph node metastasis, VEGF expression and MVD. Patients in T3-T4, stage III-IV and with lymph node metastasis had much higher expression of TGF-β1 than patients in T1-T2, stageI-II and without lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). The positive expression rate of VEGF (58.3%) in the TGF-β1 positive group is higher than that in the TGF-β1 negative group (41.7%, P < 0.05). Also, the microvessel count (54 ± 18) in TGF-β1 positive group is significantly higher than that in TGF-β1 negative group (46 ± 15, P < 0.05). The microvessel count in tumors with both TGF-β1 and VEGF positive were the highest (58 ± 20, 36-140, P < 0.05). Whereas that in tumors with both TGF-β1 and VEGF negative were the lowest (38 ± 16, 19-60, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: TGF-β1 might be associated with tumor progression by madulating the angiogenesis in colorectal cancer and TGF-β1 may be used as a possible biomarker.

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