Transforming growth factors-α and -β₁ levels in plasma and effusions from patients with cancer or hematologic malignancies

Transforming growth factors-α and -β₁ are thought to play a role in carcinogenesis. Using a sandwich linked immunosorbent assay, we have measured TGF-α and -β₁ levels in malignant human plasma and effusions. TGF-α and -β₁ plasma levels were not significantly different among normal volunteers, patients with solid tumors, and patients with hematologic malignancies (TGF-α, p = 0.225; TGF-β₁, p = 0.354). Statistically significant differences were also not found in levels between malignant and non-malignant effusions (TGF-α, p = 0.327; TGF-β₁, p = 0.095). However, a trend for the majority of elevated TGF-α or TGF-β₁ levels to be in malignant effusions warrants further studies with larger numbers of samples.