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Urinary transforming growth factor-beta 1 in relation to serum alpha-fetoprotein in hepatocellular carcinoma
J F Tsai1, J E Jeng, L Y Chuang
1Dept. of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical College, Taiwan.
Background:
Our aim was to assess the relationship between transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Methods:
Urinary TGF-beta 1 and serum AFP were determined in 123 HCC patients, 50 patients with chronic liver disease (CLD), and 50 healthy controls.
Results:
Both TGF-beta 1 and AFP levels were higher in HCC patients than in CLD patients or controls (each, P = 0.0001). There was a negative correlation between TGF-beta 1 and logAFP (r = -0.196, P = 0.029). Multivariate analysis indicated that TGF-beta 1 and AFP were associated with an increased risk of HCC development. By receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis, determination of AFP and TGF-beta 1 in parallel significantly increased the sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy in detecting HCC.
Conclusion:
Increased urinary TGF-beta 1 level can be used as a complementary marker to AFP for detection of HCC with low AFP production.