Prognostic value of transforming growth factor-beta in patients with colorectal cancer who undergo surgery: a meta-analysis

Abstract

BackgroundTransforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) is associated with a higher incidence of distant metastasis and decreased survival. Whether TGF-β can be used as a prognostic indicator of colorectal cancer (CRC) remains controversial.MethodsThe Medline, EMBASE and Cochrane databases were searched from their inception to March 2016. The studies that focused on TGF-β as a prognostic factor in patients with CRC were included in this analysis. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were analysed separately. A meta-analysis was performed, and hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.ResultsTwelve studies were included in the analysis, of which 8 were used for OS and 7 for DFS. In all, 1622 patients with CRC undergoing surgery were included. Combined HRs suggested that high expression of TGF-β had a favourable impact on OS (HR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.10–2.59) and DFS (HR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.03–1.19) in CRC patients. For OS, the combined HRs of Asian studies and Western studies were 1.50 (95% CI: 0.61–3.68) and 1.80 (95% CI: 1.33–2.45), respectively. For DFS, the combined HRs of Asian studies and Western studies were 1.42 (95% CI: 0.61–3.31) and 1.11 (95% CI: 1.03–1.20), respectively.ConclusionsThis meta-analysis demonstrates that TGF-β can be used as a prognostic biomarker for CRC patients undergoing surgery, especially for CRC patients from Western countries.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-017-3215-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Transforming growth factor-β1 gene promoter -509C/T polymorphism in association with expression affects colorectal cancer development and depends on gender

“…The correlation of immunohistochemical expression with the clinicopathological parameters associated with CRC revealed that high TGF-β expression and low TGF-βR1, TGF-βR2, Smad4, pSmad2/3, and E-cadherin expression were correlated with the tumor–node–metastasis (TNM) stage of the disease [ 34 ]. Finally, the meta-analysis by Chen XL and colleagues in 2017 showed that TGF-β tissue expression can be used as a prognostic biomarker for CRC patients undergoing surgery, especially for CRC patients from Western countries [ 35 ].…”

Resistance Mechanisms to Anti-angiogenic Therapies in Cancer

“…Tumor tissues express higher levels of TGF-β and these levels can be correlated with patient survival (185)(186)(187). Upregulation of TGF-β expression was also observed in glioma models resistant to anti-VEGF therapy (188).…”

TGFβ1: An Indicator for Tumor Immune Microenvironment of Colon Cancer From a Comprehensive Analysis of TCGA

“…In Chen et al (2017) carried out a meta-analysis and found out that up-regulated TGF-β had a favorable impact on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in CC patients and might be used as a prognostic biomarker for CC patients undergoing surgery. Later, Zessner-Spitzenberg et al (2019) also concluded that elevated levels of TGFβ served as a poor prognostic biomarker of CC.…”