RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Circulating Transforming Growth Factor-β and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor as Related to Virus Infection in Liver Carcinogenesis
JF Anticancer Research
JO Anticancer Res
FD International Institute of Anticancer Research
SP 141
OP 145
VO 32
IS 1
A1 ROSA DIVELLA
A1 ANTONELLA DANIELE
A1 COSIMO GADALETA
A1 ANTONIO TUFARO
A1 MARIA TERESA VENNERI
A1 ANGELO PARADISO
A1 MICHELE QUARANTA
YR 2012
UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/32/1/141.abstract
AB Background: The aim of our study was to improve the detection of HCC by measuring alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in addition to other molecular markers by estimating the plasma concentration of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In particular, the role of hepatitis C and B viruses (HCV and HBV) infection was evaluated with relation to TGF-β and EGFR plasma concentration. Materials and Methods: Eighty-five patients with liver disease, 54 with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 16 with liver metastasis (LM), 15 with liver cirrhosis (LC) and 30 healthy volunteers were evaluated. AFP, TGF-β and EGFR were detected with enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) in plasma of all study participants. Results: The mean values of TGF-β and EGFR in all patients were much higher than in control group, p<0.0001. In HCC patients the levels of TGF-β and EGFR were much higher than in LM and LC patients. Moreover, TGF-β and EGFR were significantly higher in the presence of both viruses or only in the presence of HCV, p=0.002. No decrease or increase of AFP was noted in these patients. Conclusion: Our data suggest the reliability of TGF-β and EGFR in detecting HCC, in particular when the carcinogenesis is affected by virus infection.