Tissue Array Based Immunohistochemical Analysis of TGF-β1，TGF-βRⅠ，TGF-βRⅡ and Smad4 in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Objective Using tissue array-based to assess the expression levels of TGF-β1,TGF-βRⅠ,TGF-βRⅡ and Smad4 and analyze the relationship between these protein and clinicopathologic significance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)．MethodsThe expression of TGF-β1,TGF-βRⅠ,TGF-βRⅡ and Smad4 in 163 cases of NPC and 42 cases chronic nasopharyngitis tissues was determined by tissue array and immunohistochemical SP method．Results（1） The positive expression rate of TGF-β1, TGF-βRⅡ and Smad4 in 163 NPC is 52.8%, 49.1% and 63.8% respectively，and 19.0%, 71.4% and 83.3% in 42 chronic nasopharyngitis tissues(P< 0.05)．（2） Expression of TGF-β1 and Smad4 are correlated with tumor 's clinical stage and biological behavior(P< 0.01)，but TGF-βRⅠ and TGF-βRⅡ are not (P>0.05)．（3）The differences in the positive rates of TGF-β1 (44.3％，42.9％，73.9% and 78.3％) and Smad4 (39.3%, 66.1%，56.5% and 73.9%) among stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ NPC were significant (P<0.05)．However, there was no significant difference in the expression of TGF-βRⅠ and TGF-βRⅡ．The local relapse rate was significantly higher in lower 5-year than that in over or equal 5-year in TGF-β1 and Smad4 positive patients (62.7％ vs．45.8％．P<0.05；75.0％ vs．55.8％，P<0.05)． All the 4 proteins had no correlation to the distant metastasis, ages, gender of NPC (P>0.05)． ConclusionThe expression of TGF-β1, TGF-βRⅠ, TGF-βRⅡ and Smad4 may play an important role in the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.