transforming growth factor β as a marker of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis c virus infection

Background: the transforming growth factor-beta (tgf-β) is one of the main growth factors associated with fibrosis or cirrhosis progression in the liver, but its role in hepatocarcinogenesis is controversial. to highlight the role of transforming growth factor β as a marker of hepatocellular carcinoma (hcc) in patients with chronic hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection.methods: ninety subjects were enrolled in this study, classified into three groups: group i (chronic hcv group) included 30 patients with chronic hcv infection; group ii (hcc group) include 30 patients having hcc and chronic hcv infection and group iii consisted of 30 age and sex-matched healthy controls. tgf-β was evaluated in all the enrollees and its levels were correlated to liver function and other clinical parameters.results: tgf-β was found significantly higher in hcc group than in control and chronic hcv (p <0.001). in addition, it was correlated with biochemical and clinical parameters of cancer.conclusions: patients with hcc showed increased level of tgf-β compared to chronic hcv infection patients and controls.