Immunohistochemical analysis of transforming growth factor beta in gallbladder cancer

Oncol Rep. 2003 Mar-Apr;10(2):327-32.

Abstract

TGF-beta is highly expressed in various cancer cells, yet its mechanism suppressing the cell cycle fails and cell proliferation accelerates, resulting in carcinogenesis. However, there are only a very few reports on animal experiments or clinical specimens with regard to the TGF-beta in gallbladder cancer. We performed immunohistochemical analysis of TGF-beta expression with regard to cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and tumor cell infiltration in clinical specimens of gallbladder cancer. TGF-beta immunoreactivity was significantly higher in advanced cancer than in early cancer. With regard to Ki-67 labeling index, there was no significant difference between early cancer and advanced one. There was no statistically significant difference of the density of pre-existing blood vessels (CD34) between TGF-beta-positive group and negative one. The density of angiogenic vessels (CD105) was significantly greater in the TGF-beta-positive group than in the negative one. Tumor-associated macrophage infiltration was significantly higher in the TGF-beta-positive group than in the negative one. No statistically significant differences in cumulative survival rate were noted between patients in the TGF-beta-positive and TGF-beta-negative groups. In conclusion, our study revealed that in patients with gallbladder cancer, expression of TGF-beta increases according to cancer progression and strongly influences angiogenesis and macrophage infiltration, which contributes to tumor proliferation, but acts weakly on cancer cells by itself.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, CD34 / metabolism
  • Endoglin
  • Female
  • Gallbladder Neoplasms / blood supply
  • Gallbladder Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Gallbladder Neoplasms / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Ki-67 Antigen / metabolism
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / pathology
  • Male
  • Microcirculation / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology
  • Prognosis
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism*
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, CD34
  • ENG protein, human
  • Endoglin
  • Ki-67 Antigen
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1