Plasma HGF concentration in patients with brain tumors

The Hepatocyte Growth Factor is a strong mitogenic factor and seems to play important role in tumor angiogenesis. The purpose of this study was to analyse the plasma concentration of this factor in patients treated surgically because of intracranial tumors. The study included 47 patients, both sexes treated surgically for intracranial tumors and 30 adult volunteers of both sexes, without cancer diagnosis. In study group 4 measurements of plasma HGF were taken: measurement 1: within 24 hours to 1 hour before the operation (preoperative), measurement 2: on the first day after the operation, i.e. after 24 hours, measurement 3: between the third and fifth day following the treatment, i.e. within 72–120 hours, and measurement 4: on the seventh day after the operation, i.e. after 840 hours. In control group only one measurement was taken. The distribution of the analyzed parameters was different from the normal distribution, therefore nonparametric statistics were used. The result values are presented in the form of a median (Me). The analysis revealed that HGR plasma levels in the patients with intracranial tumors in all 4 measurements (Me1 = 543.16 pg/ml, Me2 = 762.59 pg/ml, Me3 = 819.82 pg/ml, Me4 = 804.82 pg/ml) in the perioperative period were elevated in comparison to healthy subjects (Me = 361.04 pg/ml). The association has been shown to exist between postoperative HGF plasma levels and the clinical condition of patients with intracranial tumors (p = 0.0342). Postoperative HGF levels correlated negatively with the patients' postoperative condition. It was also found that in patients with supratentorial tumors HGF plasma levels were higher (Me = 557.74 pg/ml) in comparison to patients with posterior fossa tumors (Me = 325.00 pg/ml). These results suggest increased angiogenic and mitogenic activity in patients with intracranial tumors and its even greater intensity in the postoperative period. Greater angiogenic activity appears to occur in patients with supratentorial tumors.