OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have shown that the pleiotropic cytokine hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) and its receptor c-Met play major roles in the malignant progression of numerous tumors. For patients with breast cancer liver metastases, increased serum levels of HGF/SF have been reported. We studied the relationship between the clinical course of the disease and the serum levels of HGF/SF in such patients. METHODS: We examined 51 patients treated for breast cancer liver metastases. Serum concentrations of HGF/SF were measured before each therapy cycle and compared to the corresponding tumor marker levels. RESULTS: Mean serum levels of HGF/SF in patients with liver metastases were increased above the reported reference levels of primary breast cancer patients. Serum levels of HGF/SF were correlated with tumor marker levels in a logarithmic relation (r = 0.47, p < 0.001). In some cases serum concentrations of HGF/SF changed similarly to the course of the corresponding tumor markers. CONCLUSIONS: Serum levels of HGF/SF are associated with the clinical course of metastatic breast cancer patients with liver metastases. Further studies are required to clarify the potential value of the HGF/SF serum concentration as a tumor marker. HGF/SF and its receptor c-Met should be further evaluated as therapeutic targets.
OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have shown that the pleiotropic cytokine hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) and its receptor c-Met play major roles in the malignant progression of numerous tumors. For patients with breast cancer liver metastases, increased serum levels of HGF/SF have been reported. We studied the relationship between the clinical course of the disease and the serum levels of HGF/SF in such patients. METHODS: We examined 51 patients treated for breast cancer liver metastases. Serum concentrations of HGF/SF were measured before each therapy cycle and compared to the corresponding tumor marker levels. RESULTS: Mean serum levels of HGF/SF in patients with liver metastases were increased above the reported reference levels of primary breast cancerpatients. Serum levels of HGF/SF were correlated with tumor marker levels in a logarithmic relation (r = 0.47, p < 0.001). In some cases serum concentrations of HGF/SF changed similarly to the course of the corresponding tumor markers. CONCLUSIONS: Serum levels of HGF/SF are associated with the clinical course of metastatic breast cancerpatients with liver metastases. Further studies are required to clarify the potential value of the HGF/SF serum concentration as a tumor marker. HGF/SF and its receptor c-Met should be further evaluated as therapeutic targets.
Authors: G Zhang; Y Wang; Y Zhang; X Wan; J Li; K Liu; F Wang; K Liu; Q Liu; C Yang; P Yu; Y Huang; S Wang; P Jiang; Z Qu; J Luan; H Duan; L Zhang; A Hou; S Jin; T-C Hsieh; E Wu Journal: Curr Mol Med Date: 2012-02 Impact factor: 2.222