Heparin induces rapid and remarkable elevation of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor during trans arterial embolization of renal cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Our aim was to determined the change of serum hepatocyte growth factorl scatter factor (HGF) before and after transarterial embolization (TAE) for renal cell carcinoma (RCC).


METHODS
We examined serum HGF levels in two patients.


RESULTS
Serum HGF levels rapidly increased to six-fold higher levels immediately after heparin-injection even before embolization. Serum HGF then decreased to below 1.0 ng/ml at 6 hours after the procedure. The second peak (a two-fold increase) appeared 1-3 days after TACE. The first increase may have been due to the injection of heparin which releases HGF from the cell-surface and extracellular matrix. HGF is a pleiotropic cytokine which has a potential to enhance cell motility and angiogenesis related to tumor progression and the first larger elevation of serum HGF is enough to make a physiological effects.


CONCLUSIONS
Therefore, we should remind the physiological influence of heparin injection not only to prevent of clotting.
Yamazaki
H
H
Department of Radiation Oncology, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Oi
H
H
Matsushita
M
M
Inoue
T
T
Tang
J T
JT
Nose
T
T
Koizumi
M
M
Tanaka
E
E
Teshima
T
T
Ozeki
S
S
Nakamura
H
H
Inoue
T
T
D000368:Aged; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*
D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D006493:Heparin