Objective: To study the expression of Smad4 and transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGFbeta(1)), transforming growth factor-beta receptor II (TGFbetaRII) in cholangiocarcinoma tissue and its relationship with the biological behaviour and prognosis of the disease.
Methods: The expressions of Smad4, TGFbeta(1) and TGFbetaRII were detected by immunohistochemical technique in 47 specimens of cholangiocarcinoma and the normal bile duct tissue adjacent to the tumor. The expressions of Smad4, TGFbeta(1) and TGFbetaRII were compared with the clinical stages and pathological grades of the patients.
Results: The expression of TGFbeta(1) was positive in 36 cholangiocarcinomas (76.6%), which was higher than that in the normal tissue adjacent to the lesion. The positive expressions of Smad4 and TGFbetaRII were 14 (29.8%) and 28 (59.6%) in the carcinoma tissues, respectively (P < 0.05). The expression of TGFbeta(1) was related to the clinical stage, metastasis of lymph node and liver of the tumor (P < 0.05), but not with the histological grade (P > 0.05). There was positive correlation between TGFbetaRII expression and the clinical stage (P < 0.05), but no correlation between the TGFbetaRII expression and histological grade or metastasis of lymph node and liver (P > 0.05). The expression of Smad4 was associated with the histological grade, clinical stage and metastasis of lymph node and liver (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: The expressions of Smad4, TGFbeta(1) and TGFbetaRII correlate with the histological grading, clinical staging and metastasis of the lymph node and liver in cholangiocarcinoma. Combined detection of Smad4, TGFbeta(1) and TGFbetaRII may be helpful in the determination of the malignant degree and the prognosis of this disease.