Introduction: TGF Beta regulates cell growth and proliferation. Although pro-apoptotic in general, in some cancers it promotes tumor angiogenesis via inactivation of the TGF signaling pathway. Some cancers express TGF Beta and it has been reported that elevated blood levels pre-resection are associated with advanced stage disease. Surgery’s impact on TGF Beta levels is unknown. This study’s purpose was to assess blood TGF Beta levels after minimally invasive colorectal resection (MICR) in cancer and benign disease patients.
Methods: Thirty eight cancer (LC) and 23 benign disease patients (LB) that underwent MICR were studied. The operations performed were similar between groups. In all patients blood samples were obtained preoperatively (preop) and on postoperative day (POD) 1 and 3; in a proportion samples were also taken between POD 7-13 or POD 14-20. Plasma TGF Beta levels were determined by ELISA and the mean +/- the standard deviation determined. The POD 7-13 and the POD 14-20 specimens were each bundled and considered as single time points for each group. The t-test was used for the analysis and square root transformation was performed to transform data to normal distribution. (Significance level p
Session: Poster
Program Number: P126