HEPATOCYTE GROWTH-FACTOR AND MET HGF RECEPTORS IN PATIENTS WITH GASTRIC ADENOCARCINOMA/

Overexpression and amplification of Met/HGF receptor has been detected in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines. In this study hepatocyte gr owth factor (HGF) and Met/HGF receptors were localized in 32 gastric c ancer and adjacent normal gastric tissues by the avidin-biotin-peroxid ase complex technique. HGF (87.5%) and Met/HGF receptors (68.8%) were demonstrated in gastric cancer tissues. A high positive rate of HGF (8 7.0%) and Met/HGF receptors (82.6%) presented in intestinal type gastr ic cancer. HGF immunoreactivity in gastric cancer tissues was a signif icant and powerful prognostic indicator (relative risk 15.9; p=0.01). These data suggest that HGF and Met/HGF receptors are involved in the morphogenesis of intestinal type gastric cancer. HGF may have other me chanism that favor gastric cancer spread and independently affect surv ival.