Change of plasma transforming growth factor-beta1 levels in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with concurrent chemo-radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVE:Our aim was to study the correlation between plasma transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 level and radiation-induced mucositis and dermatitis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. METHODS:Blood samples obtained from patients treated with concurrent chemo-radiotherapy (CCRT) were divided into two groups according to the pre-treatment plasma TGF-beta1 level (> or =7.5 ng/ml as group 1 and < 7.5 ng/ml as group 2). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for the measurement of the TGF-beta1 level. Radiation toxicity was evaluated according to Radiation Treatment Oncology Group criteria. Data were analyzed by the generalized estimation equation method. RESULTS:TGF-beta1 levels of group 1 patients were decreased significantly (P = 0.002) at the end of the treatment. The rate of decrease was 0.12 ng/ml per fraction (P = 0.02). The average TGF-beta1 level in patients who suffered acute radiation morbidity (grade > or =2) was significantly higher (P = 0.0057) than that of those who suffered less (grade < 2). CONCLUSION:A lower pre-treatment plasma TGF-beta1 level and the grade of radiation toxicity both appeared to contribute to the elevated plasma TGF-beta1 after CCRT.