Abstract
Objective: A pilot study measuring serum concentrations of Transforming growth factor beta two (TGFβ2) and PSA in patients with benign and malignant prostate disease to determine if increased TGFβ2 is present in metastatic prostate cancer.
Methods: Serum samples from 40 patients with T4 M+ metastatic prostate cancer and 40 with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were assessed for TGFβ2 concentration. An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used, serum PSA was also measured with radioimmunoassay.
Results: The median concentration and semiquartile ranges of TGFβ2 for the cancer group were 183 (79–349) ng/l and for the BPH group 103 (61–302) ng/l. No significant difference was observed between the two groups There was, however, a 11 fold difference between the two groups with respect to median PSA.
Conclusions: PSA remains the most accurate predictor between cancer and benign disease. TGFβ2 failed to discriminate as effectively between the two groups.