Transforming growth factor-beta isoforms expressions in pulmonary adenocarcinomas as prognostic markers: an immunohistological study of one hundred and twenty patients.

The transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, TGF-beta2 and TGF-beta3 expressions were immunohistologically studied in tissues specimens from 120 patients with a pulmonary adenocarcinoma. The results of a univariate analysis indicated that the expression of each of the TGF-beta isoforms correlated with the prognosis. Of the three prognostic factors examined using Cox's stepwise regression model, the TGF-beta1 isoform was found to correlate with survival. These findings suggest that TGF-beta isoforms play an important role in tumor progression and that the TGF-beta1 isoform is a useful prognostic marker for pulmonary adenocarcinomas.