title: Clinical value of plasma hepatocyte growth factor measurement for the diagnosis of periampullary cancer and prognosis after pancreaticoduodenectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies suggest that serum hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) level may be a useful diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for various tumors. We investigated the utility of plasma HGF level measurements in diagnosing periampullary cancer (PAC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Of the patients enrolled in this pilot study (n = 118), 57 had PAC, 21 had benign pancreatic tumor (BPT), 20 had chronic pancreatitis (CP), and 20 were healthy controls. Plasma HGF was measured with ELISA kits. It was measured again at 10 days and 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma HGF levels were significantly higher in PAC patients than in BPT patients, CP patients, or healthy controls. When a cutoff value of 1,120  pg/ml was used, 48/57 (84%) patients with PAC were positive for elevated HGF, but only 6/20 (30%) of patients with CP and none of the controls or patients with BPT were positive for elevated HGF. After PD, HGF levels were significantly elevated at day 10.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma HGF level discriminates well between PAC and other, benign diseases. Therefore, HGF measurement could be a useful addition to the existing array of diagnostic tools for PAC pancreatic cancer. The higher postoperative value may reflect the stress of surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. omarbarakat@sbcglobal.net
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Barakat
authors.forename: Gabriela C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Raijman
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nieto
authors.forename: Claire F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Ozaki
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Engler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014670:Ampulla of Vater / Q000473:pathology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D003138:Common Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor