title: Prognostic significance of plasma scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor levels in patients with metastatic hormone- refractory prostate cancer: results from cancer and leukemia group B 150005/9480.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Scatter factor, also known as hepatocyte growth factor (SF/HGF), is a polypeptide growth factor thought to be important in the growth and spread of prostatic carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Scatter factor/HGF levels in pretreatment plasma samples from 171 men with metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer enrolled in CALGB 9480 were quantified by solid-phase, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the prognostic importance of SF/HGF with adjustment for established prognostic factors. Median SF/HGF was 991 pg/mL (range, 212-2733 pg/mL). In a univariate analysis, although plasma SF/HGF levels above versus below the median value did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.0862), the cutoff point of > 935 pg/mL was associated with a significant reduction in overall survival (P = 0.0334). Patients with SF/HGF levels > 935 pg/mL experienced a median survival of 15 months compared with 19 months for men with SF/HGF levels < or = 935 pg/mL. In a multivariate analysis, adjusting for SF/HGF, prostate-specific antigen, lactate dehydrogenase, and performance status, only plasma alkaline phosphatase was significantly associated with overall survival (hazard ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.5; P = 0.0017).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher plasma levels of SF/HGF in men with hormone-refractory prostate cancer are associated with a decreased patient survival. Currently, SF/HGF levels do not appear to be of value as a contributor to multivariate models for prediction of outcome, but the association with decreased survival suggests that SF/HGF might be a potential target for therapy.
authors.affiliation: Washington University Medical Center, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. humphrey@path.wustl.edu
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Humphrey
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Halabi
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Picus
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sanford
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Vogelzang
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: Philip W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Kantoff
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor