title: Hepatocyte growth factor has potent anti-proliferative activity in various tumor cell lines.
abstract: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has potent mitogenic activity for mature hepatocytes and various normal epithelial cells. We now have evidence that HGF at 1-10 ng/ml, strongly inhibits the growth of HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells, B6/F1 melanoma cells and KB squamous carcinoma cells. These tumor cells express high affinity receptors for HGF with a Kd of 25-28 pM, similar to findings with hepatocytes. HGF at 1-100 ng/ml had no significant cytolytic effect on tumor cells. Therefore, the anti-proliferative effect of HGF on tumor cells seems to be cytostatic, not cytolytic. As HGF apparently has bidirectional effects on cell growth, the possibility that it can serve as an anti-tumor agent merits attention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tajima
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D006801:Humans; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000737:chemistry; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D006133:Growth Substances; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D004247:DNA