Significance of serum hepatocyte growth factor levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing hepatic resection.
BACKGROUND
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent hepatocyte mitogen and may stimulate the proliferation and invasiveness of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells through the c-met receptor. This study evaluates the significance of serum HGF levels in patients undergoing HCC resection.


METHODS
The peripheral and portal sera and HCC and non-tumorous tissues of 40 HCC patients, with tumor TNM stage I (n=12), II (n=17), and III (n=11) diseases, who underwent hepatic resection were prospectively collected. Serum HGF levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The c-met protein expressions were examined by immunohistochemistry. Median follow-up time was 69 months.


RESULTS
The prehepatectomy portal HGF levels (median, 622pg/mL) were significantly higher than peripheral HGF levels (564pg/mL) (P=0.026). The posthepatectomy portal HGF levels (699pg/mL) were significantly higher than prehepatectomy portal HGF levels (P<0.001). C-met expression was detected in 87.5% HCC and in 85.0% non-tumorous liver tissues. By Cox multivariate analysis, posthepatectomy portal HGF level >699pg/mL (P<0.001), multiple tumors (P=0.042), and TNM stages II (P=0.019) and III (P=0.009) were independent factors related with survival. Patients with a posthepatectomy portal HCG level >699pg/mL and with a positive c-met expression in HCC tissue have the worst survival.


CONCLUSIONS
In HCC patients, high peripheral and portal HGF serum levels related with poor prognosis after hepatic resection. Hepatocyte growth factor and c-met receptor can be targets of future HCC postoperative treatment.
Chau
G-Y
GY
Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, No. 201, Shih-pai Road, Section 2, Shih-pai, Taipei 112, Taiwan. gychau@vghtpe.gov.tw
Lui
W-Y
WY
Chi
C-W
CW
Chau
Y-P
YP
Li
A-F
AF
Kao
H-L
HL
Wu
C-W
CW
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006498:Hepatectomy; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000378:metabolism; D016019:Survival Analysis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met