PURPOSE: A major problem of renal cell carcinoma is the prediction of metastases via tumor prognostic markers. Therefore, much effort has been committed to the development of new prognostic markers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The level of transforming growth factor-beta1 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serum samples collected from patients with renal cell carcinoma before radical nephrectomy. RESULTS: In serum samples from 21 patients with renal cell carcinoma and 21 healthy controls mean transforming growth factor-beta1 levels were 177 +/- 54.1 versus 65.6 +/- 15.8 ng./ml., respectively. This difference was statistically significant (Mann-Whitney U test p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Increased levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 are common in serum of patients with renal cell carcinoma.
PURPOSE: A major problem of renal cell carcinoma is the prediction of metastases via tumor prognostic markers. Therefore, much effort has been committed to the development of new prognostic markers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The level of transforming growth factor-beta1 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serum samples collected from patients with renal cell carcinoma before radical nephrectomy. RESULTS: In serum samples from 21 patients with renal cell carcinoma and 21 healthy controls mean transforming growth factor-beta1 levels were 177 +/- 54.1 versus 65.6 +/- 15.8 ng./ml., respectively. This difference was statistically significant (Mann-Whitney U test p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Increased levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 are common in serum of patients with renal cell carcinoma.