Pretreatment plasma TGFβ1 levels are prognostic for survival but not morbidity following radiation therapy of carcinoma of the cervix

Abstract

Purpose: To determine whether pretreatment plasma-transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) levels are prognostic for tumor control and late morbidity following radiation therapy in carcinoma of the cervix. Methods and Materials: The study was comprised of 79 patients undergoing radiotherapy with curative intent for Stage I-III carcinoma of the cervix. TGFβ1 levels were analyzed using ELISA. Late morbidity was measured using the Franco-Italian glossary. Data were available for the pretreatment levels of circulating tumor markers that represent disease burden, and for peripheral blood lymphocyte radiosensitivity measured as SF2. Results: Pretreatment TGFβ1 levels were a significant prognostic factor for survival and local control. There were weak significant correlations of TGFβ1 levels with disease stage and the levels of circulating tumor markers (CA125, TPA). There was a weak significant correlation between TGFβ1 levels and normal cell radiosensitivity (lymphocyte SF2). There was no relationship between TGFβ1 levels and grade of morbidity and pretreatment TGFβ1 levels were not a significant prognostic factor for the probability of developing late morbidity. Conclusion: In carcinoma of the cervix, pretreatment TGFβ1 levels reflect tumor burden and are a significant prognostic factor for survival. Despite an underlying weak relationship of TGFβ1 levels with intrinsic normal cell radiosensitivity, pretreatment levels are not prognostic for the probability of developing late complications. This finding does not rule out the possible usefulness of measurements toward the end of treatment once tumor burden has been reduced.