Effect of hepatocyte growth factor on invasion of prostate cancer cell lines.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was suggested to play an important role in the regulation of mitogenesis, motogenesis, angiogenesis, migration and invasion for various types of cells, and acts through a specific membrane receptor encoded by c-met proto-oncogene. However, the mechanism of the effect of HGF on tumor invasion of prostate cancer cells remains unclear. We investigated the effect of HGF on the invasion of PC-3 and DU-145 prostate cancer cells through a reconstituted basement membrane (Matrigel), the haptotactic migration to fibronectin substrate, the expression of protein and mRNA for matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-1 and -9, membrane-type 1-MMP (MT1-MMP), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) and its receptor (uPAR). HGF increased both Matrigel invasion and haptotactic migration of prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, HGF also increased the production of MMP-1 and -9, MT1-MMP, u-PA and uPAR of these cells. These results suggested that HGF increased the invasive potential of prostate cancer cells probably through enhancement of cell motility and the production of MMPs and u-PA.