Plasma hepatocyte growth factor is a prognostic factor in patients with acute myeloid leukemia but not in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent angiogenic factor. The aim of ou r study was to evaluate plasma HGF levels and their prognostic significance in patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodys plastic syndrome (MDS). The sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique was used to quantify HGF in stored samples obtained before treatment from patients w ith AML (59 patients) and MDS (42 patients) treated at The University of Te xas MD Anderson Cancer Center. HGF levels were significantly higher in pati ents with AML or MDS than in healthy individuals (P < 0.0001). Higher HGF l evels in both AML and MDS correlated significantly with white blood cell (P = 0.000001 for both groups) and monocyte counts (P = 0.0004 and 0.003, res pectively), and with poor performance status (P = 0.03 and 0.001, respectiv ely). Using Cox proportional hazard model and HGF levels as a continuous va riable, plasma levels of HGF correlated with shorter survival of AML (P = 0 .001), but not MDS (P= 0.34) patients. No significant correlation was obser ved between HGF levels and complete remission rate or duration. In the mult ivariate, analysis HGF retained its significance as prognostic factor In AM L (P = 0.02), along with age (P = 0.0005).