TGF-beta1 Predicts Changes in Body Composition for Patients with Pancreatic Cancer

TGF-β1 is a cytokine that regulates many cellular functions, including proliferation, differentiation, and migration. It has been previously established that TGF-β1 inhibits skeletal muscle regeneration and can induce myotube atrophy. We hypothesized that TGF-β1 levels could be used as a biomarker in people with cancer to predict cancer cachexia progression. Cachexia is associated with poor outcomes for patients with cancer and TGF-β1 is a potential regulator of skeletal muscle mass. Serum TGF-β1 levels were measured in 114 patients with pancreatic cancer by ELISA. Each of these patients had clinical imaging available from which skeletal muscle index (SKMI), muscle Hounsfield units (MHU), total adipose tissue index (TATI), visceral adipose tissue index (VATI), subcutaneous adipose tissue index (SATI), and body mass index (BMI) were assessed. Associations between body composition variables and circulating TGF-β1 levels were evaluated by linear regression. Seventy-two subjects had serial imaging for analysis, allowing assessment of changes in body composition following TGF-β1 measurement. TGF-β1 levels did not associate with baseline BMI, SKMI, TATI, VATI, SATI, or MHU. However, higher TGF-β1 levels were associated with greater changes in BMI per day (p=0.042). TGF-β1 was associated with SKMI percent change per day (p=0.05) as well as SATI percent change per day (p=0.046). TGF-β1 was not predictive of change in MHU (p=0.164) nor was it predictive in change in VATI (p=0.325) or TATI (p=0.278). The relationship between SKMI change and TGF-β1 persisted following adjustment for sex (p=0.031). In conclusion, circulating TGF-β1 was not predictive of baseline body composition but did predict changes in skeletal muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue. Therefore, circulating TGF-β1 may serve as a biomarker for predicting cachexia progression in patients with pancreatic cancer. Funded by NCI R21CA257972, Holden Comprehensive Center Gift Funds, and American Cancer Society IRG 21-141-46 This abstract was presented at the American Physiology Summit 2026 and is only available in HTML format. There is no downloadable file or PDF version. The Physiology editorial board was not involved in the peer review process.