Prognostic significance of in situ and plasma levels of transforming growth factor β1, -2 and -3 in cutaneous melanoma.

Melanoma is an aggressive type of cutaneous malignancy. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta has been demonstrated to be an important mediator of tumor progression. However, to the best of our knowledge, the systemic roles of plasma TGF-beta and TGF-beta in situ have not been investigated in Han Chinese melanoma patients. The results of the present study demonstrated that the in situ and plasma levels of TGF-beta 1, TGF-beta 2 and TGF-beta 3 protein and messenger RNA were significantly elevated in tumor tissues compared with those of normal tissues. The survival rates of the patients which were triple-positive (TGF-beta 1(+), TGF-beta 2(+) and TGF-beta(3+)) were found to be markedly decreased compared to those which were single- (TGF-beta 1(+), TGF-(beta 2(+) or TGF-beta 3(+)) or double-positive (TGF-beta 1(+), TGF-beta 2(+); TGF-beta(+), TGF-beta 3(+); or TGF-beta 1(+), TGF-beta 3(+)). These results may therefore contribute to the use of TGF-beta as a prognostic biomarker, and to the development of novel therapies for melanoma treatment.