Tissue Array Based Immunohistochemical Analysis of TGF-β1,TGF-βRI,TGF-βRII and Smad4 in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Abstract

Objective Using tissue array-based to assess the expression levels of TGF-β1,TGF-βRⅠ,TGF-βRⅡ and Smad4 and analyze the relationship between these protein and clinicopathologic significance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC).Methods The expression of TGF-β1,TGF-βRⅠ,TGF-βRⅡ and Smad4 in 163 cases of NPC and 42 cases chronic nasopharyngitis tissues was determined by tissue array and immunohistochemical SP method.Results(1) The positive expression rate of TGF-β1,TGF-βRⅡ and Smad4 in 163 NPC is 52.8%,49.1% and 63.8% respectively,and 19.0%,71.4% and 83.3% in 42 chronic nasopharyngitis tissues(P 0.05).(2) Expression of TGF-β1 and Smad4 are correlated with tumor's clinical stage and biological behavior(P 0.01),but TGF-βRⅠ and TGF-βRⅡ are not(P0.05).(3)The differences in the positive rates of TGF-β1(44.3%,42.9%,73.9% and 78.3%) and Smad4(39.3%,66.1%,56.5% and 73.9%) among stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ NPC were significant(P0.05).However,there was no significant difference in the expression of TGF-βRⅠ and TGF-βRⅡ.The local relapse rate was significantly higher in lower 5-year than that in over or equal 5-year in TGF-β1 and Smad4 positive patients(62.7% vs.45.8%.P0.05;75.0% vs.55.8%,P0.05).All the 4 proteins had no correlation to the distant metastasis,ages,gender of NPC(P0.05).Conclusion The expression of TGF-β1,TGF-βRⅠ,TGF-βRⅡ and Smad4 may play an important role in the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.