title: Hepatoma-Derived Growth Factor: Its Possible Involvement in the Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
abstract: The development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an important complication of viral infection induced by hepatitis virus C, and our major research theme is to identify a new growth factor related to the progression of HCC. HDGF (hepatoma-derived growth factor) is a novel growth factor that belongs to a new gene family. HDGF was initially purified from the conditioned medium of a hepatoma cell line. HDGF promotes cellular proliferation as a DNA binding nuclear factor and a secreted protein acting via a receptor-mediated pathway. HDGF is a unique multi-functional protein that can function as a growth factor, angiogenic factor and anti-apoptotic factor and it participates in the development and progression of various malignant diseases. The expression level of HDGF may be an independent prognostic factor for predicting the disease-free and overall survival in patients with various malignancies, including HCC. Furthermore, the overexpression of HDGF promotes the proliferation of HCC cells, while a reduction in the HDGF expression inhibits the proliferation of HCC cells. This article provides an overview of the characteristics of HDGF and describes the potential role of HDGF as a growth-promoting factor for HCC.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Mukogawa-cho 1-1, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan. enomoto@hyo-med.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hirayuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Enomoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Nissay Hospital, Itachibori 6-3-8, Nishi-ku, Osaka 550-0012, Japan. nakamura.hideji@nissay-hp.or.jp.
authors.forename: Hideji
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, No. 69, Dongxiabei, Jinping, Shantou 515041, China. weidongliu206@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Weidong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Mukogawa-cho 1-1, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan. nishiguc@hyo-med.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Shuhei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishiguchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C051610:hepatoma-derived growth factor
keywords: angiogenesis; apoptosis; hepatocellular carcinoma; hepatoma-derived growth factor