Perioperative changes in TGF-β1 levels predict the oncological outcome of cryoablation-receiving patients with localized prostate cancer

PurposeTo evaluate the cytokine transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) as a predictor of oncological outcomes in patients after cryoablation.Materials and methodsPerioperative blood samples from prostate cancer (PC) patients who underwent total gland cryoablation between October 2011 and March 2013 were collected prospectively. Plasma TGF-β1 levels were quantified using magnetic bead immunoassay. The perioperative change in TGF-β1 was defined as the change in TGF-β1 from before surgery to 1-2 months after surgery. Biochemical recurrence (BCR) was defined according to the Phoenix criteria. The Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis rank sum, and Chi-square test were used to compare the clinical characteristics of the subsets. The Cox proportional hazard model was applied for the comparison of recurrence risk among the groups.ResultsA total of 75 PC patients were included. During a median follow-up period of 12 months (range: 2.5-47 months), 11 patients had BCR, and 64 patients did not. Significantly greater changes in the perioperative TGF-β1 levels (median: 470.3 vs. 78.9 pg/ml) were observed in patients with than without BCR (p < 0.05). According to the changes in TGF-β1 levels, the patients were further divided into 4 groups, which were determined in the quartile categories of perioperative TGF-β1 levels. Group 4 (≥430) predicted the worst BCR outcome.ConclusionsPerioperative plasma TGF-β1 levels were associated with BCR after prostate cryoablation for localized PC. Increase in postoperative plasma TGF-β1 may be a novel predictor for poor oncological outcomes and prompt a more aggressive follow-up or earlier salvage treatment.