title: Clinical correlations and prognostic relevance of HGF, VEGF AND FGF expression in Brazilian patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
abstract: The aims of this study were to correlate HGF, VEGF and FGF serum levels and microvessel density (MVD) with cell origin, biological behavior, tumor load and prognosis in NHL. Eighty-seven consecutive previously untreated NHL patients had serum samples collected; 37 (42%) of them also had serum follow-up samples; the control group was composed of 10 healthy blood donors. Cytokine serum levels were determined by ELISA, and MVD was measured by CD34 staining in paraffin blocks. HGF mean serum level was significantly higher in both early and advanced NHL stages when compared with the control group. HGF was also significantly higher in aggressive and indolent NHL when compared with the control group. Also, mean serum level of HGF in aggressive NHL was significantly higher than in indolent NHL. Regarding International Prognostic Index (IPI), HGF mean serum level at diagnosis was significantly higher for patients with IPI >2 when compared to IPI <or=2. Sequential analyses of HGF, VEGF and FGF serum levels in NHL showed that serum HGF and VEGF levels decreased significantly after 6 months of treatment completion. Our findings suggest that HGF serum level is associated with tumor load and aggressiveness, and response to treatment results in a decrease in HGF serum levels in NHL patients.
authors.affiliation: Hematology and Transfusion Service, Federal University of São Paulo, UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Etto
authors.forename: Emílio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lacerda
authors.forename: Otavio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Baiocchi
authors.forename: Vanderléia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dalboni
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vettore
authors.forename: Gisele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colleoni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000097:blood; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D047368:Tumor Burden; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor