Serum hepatocyte growth factor activator (HGFA) in benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Hepatocyte growth factor activator (HGFA) is responsible for proteolytic activation of the precursor form of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). We attempted to clarify whether serum levels of HGFA could be used as a marker for prostate cancer.


METHODS
Serum levels of total HGF and HGFA were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 99 healthy controls, 27 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 119 patients with prostate cancer.


RESULTS
: The mean+/-S.D. serum levels of HGFA in untreated prostate cancer and BPH cases were 0.42+/-0.24 and 0.50+/-0.26 ng/ml, respectively (no significant difference). Serum HGFA was significantly elevated in hormone-refractory prostate cancer (stage D3) compared to other stages, while HGF did not significantly differ with regard to clinical stage.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum HGFA tends was elevated in patients with advanced stage prostate cancer. Further studies in large groups of patients are needed to clarify the clinical value of HGFA.
Nagakawa
Osamu
O
Department of Urology, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan. nagakawa@ms.toyama-mpu.ac.jp
Yamagishi
Toshiya
T
Fujiuchi
Yasuyoshi
Y
Junicho
Akira
A
Akashi
Takuya
T
Nagaike
Kazuhiro
K
Fuse
Hideki
H
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000097:blood*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; C081092:HGF activator; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases