Utility of plasma tumour necrosis factor-α and transforming growth factor-β1 as predictors of survival and treatment outcome in advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma

Abstract

We hypothesized that plasma level of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 may be a potential tool for diagnosis, prognosis and prediction of treatment outcome in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Plasma levels of TNF-α and TGF-β1 were quantified in 100 NSCLC patients and 100 controls. Association of TNF-α and TGF-β1 with response to therapy and survival was determined in 42 patients. An increased presence of TNF-α and TGF-β1 was observed in NSCLC compared with controls. TNF-α and TGF-β1 levels did not correlate with survival and response to chemotherapy. TNF-α and TGF-β1 do not appear to be reliable markers for predicting survival and response to therapy in advanced NSCLC.

Keywords::

• Chemotherapy
• diagnosis
• prognosis
• response

Acknowledgments

S.K. acknowledges Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Government of India (New Delhi), for providing assistance in terms of Senior Research Fellowship.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.