Abstract
TGF-β1 is involved in tumour growth. Four TGFB1 SNPs and TGF-β1 production by stimulated PBMC were determined in seventy-eight gastric adenocarcinoma patients. In addition, TGF-β1 levels were measured in the plasma of further thirty patients. rs1800471-G/C genotype was prevalent in patients (20.7%) compared to controls (8.4%), as it also was the rs1800468 SNP-G/A genotype in stage IV patients (20.7%) compared to stage I, II and III patients, combined (10.3%). Conversely, the T/T rs1800469 SNP-T/T genotype was absent in the former group and present in 19.0% in the latter. Furthermore, the rs1800469-C/rs1800470-T (CT) haplotype was found in 15.0% of stage IV patients as compared to 3.0% of the remaining patients (3.0%) and also identifies patients with worse five-year life expectancy (P = .03). TGF-β1 synthesis by stimulated PBMCs was significantly lower in patients with the risk SNPs or haplotype, compared to the alternative genotype. Finally, TGF-β1 plasma levels were lower in patients with worse life expectancy. Analysis of TGFB1 SNPs and measurement of plasma TGF-β1 levels serves to identify patients at risk of developing a more aggressive disease.