Expression of hepatocyte growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor as prognostic indicators in gastric cancer.

We have investigated the correlations among hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) mRNA expression, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) mRNA expression, tumor microvessel density (MVD), and clinical pathological features of gastric cancer in Chinese patients. In situ hybridization was used to detect the expression of HGF and bFGF mRNAs, and immunohistochemistry was used to detect CD34 in 105 gastric cancer tissues and in 20 normal control tissues. The rate of HGF mRNA expression in normal gastric tissues (25%) was significantly lower than that (57.1%) in tumor tissues (P < 0.01). The rates of HGF mRNA and bFGF mRNA expression and MVD in T3-T4 stage tissues were higher than those in T1-T2 stage tissues (P < 0.01); the HGF mRNA expression rate was directly correlated with the bFGF mRNA expression rate (P < 0.05), and they were also directly correlated with MVD (P < 0.01). The mean survival time and the 5-year survival rate of patients who were positive for expression of HGF mRNA and bFGF mRNA and who had a MVD >or= 39.5/0.72 mm(2) were significantly shorter than those who did not express HGF mRNA and bFGF mRNA and who had a MVD <39.5/0.72 mm(2). Both HGF and bFGF may participate in angiogenesis in gastric cancer and may be involved in tumor invasion and metastasis. HGF and bFGF mRNA expression can be used as useful parameters to evaluate the prognosis of gastric cancer.