[The expression of hepatocyte growth factor and its receptor in brain astrocytomas].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) mRNA and its receptor (c-Met) mRNA in brain astrocytomas and their relationships with tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, clinical pathology and prognosis.


METHODS
The expression of HGF mRNA, c-Met mRNA in the resected tumor tissues of 76 patients with brain astrocytomas, 43 males and 33 females, aged 20 - 71, were detected by in situ hybridization. Immunohistochemistry technique was used to test the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) protein and the microvessel density (MVD) was determined by immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibody against CD34.


RESULTS
The positive rates of expression of HGF, c-Met and PCNA in low pathologic grades of brain astrocytoma were 34.5%, 44.8% and 15% +/- 9% respectively, and in high pathologic grades of brain astrocytoma were 34.5%, 44.8% and 48% +/- 12% respectively (P < 0.05). MVD in low and high pathologic grades of brain astrocytoma were 17 +/- 7 and 31 +/- 13 respectively (P < 0.05). The expression of HGF, c-Met, PCNA and CD34 was not related to sex, age, position of tumor and diameter of tumor. The expression of c-Met was related to the expression of HGF, PCNA and the MVD in the tumor tissues of these patients. The pathological grade, position of tumor, HGF, c-Met, PCNA, MVD had a significant influence on the survival time.


CONCLUSIONS
HGF/c-Met plays an important role in the formation and progression of the brain astrocytoma and can promote tumor proliferation and intratumoral microvascular formation, and is closely related to the prognosis of the patients.
Chu
Sheng-Hua
SH
Department of Neurosurgery, Wuhan University Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan 430071, China.
Yuan
Xian-Hou
XH
Jiang
Pu-Cha
PC
Li
Zhi-Qiang
ZQ
Zhang
Jie
J
Wen
Zhi-Hua
ZH
Zhao
Shi-Yu
SY
Chen
Xin-Jun
XJ
Cao
Chang-Jun
CJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; C491743:MET protein, human; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met