SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF HEPATOCYTE GROWTH-FACTOR DETECTED IN BLOOD AND BONE-MARROW PLASMA OF LEUKEMIA PATIENTS

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been known as a versatile functiona l molecule, and as being involved in the colony formation of haemopoie tic progenitor cells. Clinically, an elevated HGF level in the blood h as been associated with liver diseases such as fulminant hepatic failu re and acute hepatitis. We have found a high level of HGF in blood and bone marrow plasma from patients with various types of leukaemia and lymphoma. In particular, 21/31 acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML) pati ents showed a significant level of HGF (> 0.40 ng/ml) in their blood o r bane marrow plasma. The mean value of HGF in the plasma of AML patie nts was 2.03 ng/ml, which was higher than that in the serum of patient s with acute hepatitis. This demonstrates, for the first time, evidenc e of frequent association of increased levels of HGF in non-lymphocyti c leukaemias, though its significance in the disease remains unknown.