PLASMA-LEVEL OF BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR INCREASES WITH PROGRESSION OF CHRONIC LIVER-DISEASE

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) is thought to be involved in carc inogenesis and, to clarify its clinical significance, the study of its blood level in cancer patients is important. Plasma levels of basic F GF are reported to be elevated in some cancers. However, little is kno wn of basic FGF levels in plasma in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we measured basic FGF plasma levels in patients with chro nic liver disease and compared the levels in chronic hepatitis (CH), l iver cirrhosis (LC), and HCC. We also examined whether these levels we re related to serum levels of asparate aminotransferase, alanine amino transferase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase, leuc ine aminopeptidase, total bilirubin, total protein, and albumin, and t o the indocyanine green test (i.e., liver function tests) and to type III procollagen, 7S domain of IV type collagen, and hyaluronic acid (i .e.; markers of liver fibrosis). Levels of basic FGF, determined by a quantitative ''sandwich'' enzyme immunoassay, were significantly eleva ted with the progression of liver disease; being 3.67 +/- 2.37 (mean /- SD), 7.78 +/- 6.61, and 12.37 +/- 7.67 pg/ml in the CH, LC, and HCC groups, respectively. FGF levels were elevated to a greater extent in the HCC patients than in the CH (P = 0.0001) and LC patients (P = 0.0 117). Levels were higher in LC than in CH (P = 0.0204). None of the li ver function test findings or levels of markers of liver fibrosis were correlated with levels of basic FGF. These results suggest that circu lating basic FGF could serve as a new indicator of the progression of chronic liver disease. The extremely elevated plasma of level basic FG F in the HCC group suggests that basic FGF may be related to the devel opment of HCC.