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Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology

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01-03-2016 | Original Article – Clinical Oncology

Prognostic implication of serum hepatocyte growth factor in stage II/III breast cancer patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Authors: Hyori Kim, Jeonghwan Youk, Yaewon Yang, Tae-Yong Kim, Ahrum Min, Hye-Seon Ham, Seongcheol Cho, Kyung-Hun Lee, Bhumsuk Keam, Sae-Won Han, Do-Youn Oh, Han Suk Ryu, Wonshik Han, In Ae Park, Tae-You Kim, Dong-Young Noh, Seock-Ah Im

Published in: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology | Issue 3/2016

Abstract

Purpose

In stage II/III breast cancer, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is a standard treatment. Although several biomarkers are used to predict prognosis in breast cancer, there is no reliable predictive biomarker for NAC success. Recently, the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and cMet signaling pathway demonstrated to be involved in breast cancer tumor progression, and its potential as a biomarker is under active investigation. In this study, we assessed the potential of serum HGF as a prognostic biomarker for NAC efficacy.

Methods

Venous blood samples were drawn from patients diagnosed with stage II/III breast cancer and treated with NAC in Seoul National University Hospital from August 2004 to November 2009. Serum HGF level was determined using an ELISA system. We reviewed the medical records of the patients and investigated the association of HGF level with patients’ clinicopathologic characteristics.

Results

A total of 121 female patients (median age = 45 years old) were included. Median level of HGF was 934 pg/ml (lower quartile: 772, upper quartile: 1145 pg/ml). Patients with higher HGF level than median value were significantly more likely to have clinically detectable regional node metastasis (p = 0.017, Fisher’s exact test). Patients with complete and partial response according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer 7th Edition criteria tended to have higher HGF level (p = 0.105 by t test). Patients with an HGF level higher than the upper quartile value had longer relapse-free survival than the other patients (106 vs. 85 months, p = 0.008).

Conclusions

High serum HGF levels in breast cancer patients are associated with clinically detectable regional node metastasis and, paradoxically, with longer relapse-free survival in stage II/III breast cancer.

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Title: Prognostic implication of serum hepatocyte growth factor in stage II/III breast cancer patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Authors: Hyori Kim
Jeonghwan Youk
Yaewon Yang
Tae-Yong Kim
Ahrum Min
Hye-Seon Ham
Seongcheol Cho
Kyung-Hun Lee
Bhumsuk Keam
Sae-Won Han
Do-Youn Oh
Han Suk Ryu
Wonshik Han
In Ae Park
Tae-You Kim
Dong-Young Noh
Seock-Ah Im
Publication date: 01-03-2016
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology / Issue 3/2016
Print ISSN: 0171-5216
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1335
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-015-2072-5

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