Circulating TGF-β1-related biomarkers in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and their association with HCC staging scores

Highlight
• TGF-β circulating levels are not related to more advanced stage of HCC.
• The inverse correlation TGF-β/E-cadherin supports the role of TGF-β in EMT.
• E-cadherin, MMP-2 and VEGF are related to TGF-β activity.
• These biomarkers could help to select candidates for receiving a TGF-β inhibitor.

TGF-β1 was inversely correlated with E-cadherin but significantly correlated with VEGF. VEGF and AFP had a low coefficient value but statistically significant. A significant correlation was found between E-cadherin and MMP2. In conclusion, TGF-β and E-cadherin are inversely correlated in HCC patients' sera and not related to the BCLC classification nor survival but rather to the biological properties of the tumor.