Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Circulates in Normal Human Plasma and is Unchanged in Advanced Metastatic Breast Cancer

Lalage M. Wakefield, John J. Letterio, Theresa Chen, David Danielpour, Robin S.H. Allison, Lee H. Pai, Andrea M. Denicoff, Marianne H. Noone, Kenneth H. Cowan, Joyce A. O’Shaughnessy, Michael B. Sporn

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

157 Scopus citations

Abstract

A method has been developed to determine true plasma transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) levels by using the platelet α granule-specific marker, platelet factor 4, to correct for the TGF-β contributed by platelets degranulated ex vivo. TGF-β levels were measured on acid-ethanol extracts of human plasma using isoform-speciflc sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Normal human subjects had 4.1 ± 2.0 ng/ml TGF-β1 (range, 2.0-12.0; n = 42), <0.2 ng/ml TGF-β2, and <0.1 ng/ml TGF-β3 in their plasma. There were no significant changes with age or with hormonal status, but any given individual showed fluctuations of up to 3-fold in measured plasma TGF-β levels due to unknown factors. Of 28 patients with advanced metastatic breast cancer, 2 had greatly elevated TGF-β1 levels, while the rest were in the normal range. The presence of physiologically significant levels of TGF-β1 in the plasmas of normal human subjects may indicate previously unsuspected endocrine roles for this peptide, while TGF-β2 and TGF-β3 appear to act only in a local autocrine/paracrine fashion.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)129-136
Number of pages8
JournalClinical Cancer Research
Volume1
Issue number1
StatePublished - Jan 1 1995
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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