MRNA expression of basic fibroblast growth factor and hepatocyte growth factor in gastric carcinoma and significance thereof

Abstract

To investigate the mRNA expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in gastric carcinoma and correlation thereof with intratumoral microvascular density (IMD), proliferating cell nuclear antigen labeling index (PCNA LI), tumor invasion and metastasis, and patients' survival. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were used to test the expression of bFGF and HGF mRNA and protein expression of CD34 and PCNA in 118 specimens of gastric carcinoma. The positive rates of bFGF mRNA and HGF mRNA were 57.6% and 52.5% respectively; the positive expression rates of bFGF mRNA and HGF mRNA of the cases at the stage T3-T4, and those with vessel invasion, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis were all significantly higher than the positive expression rates of the cases at the stage T1-T2, and those without lymph node metastasis, vessel invasion, and distant metastasis (all P < 0.05). The mean IMD levels of the patients positive in bFGF and HGF mRNA expression were (46.63 +/- 13.96) and (46.73 +/- 13.34) pieces/0.72 mm2, both significantly higher than those of the patients negative in bFGF and HGF mRNA expression [(34.56 +/- 15.16) and (35.98 +/- 14.92) pieces/0.72 mm2) respectively, t = 4.62, P = 0.000, and t = 4.01, P = 0.000]. The PCNA LI of the of the patients positive in bFGF and HGF mRNA expression was (66.53 +/- 13.61) and (67.56 +/- 13.41) respectively, both significantly higher5 than those of patients negative in bFGF and HGF mRNA expression [(54.79 +/- 10.57) and (55.04 +/- 11.01) respectively, t = 5.83, P = 0.000, and t = 4.91, P = 0.000]. The 5-year survival rates of the patients negative in bFGF and HGF mRNA expression were 60.00% and 67.90% respectively, both significantly higher than those of the patients positive in bFGF and HGF mRNA expression (30.90% and 21.00% respectively, both P = 0.000). IMD, PCNA LI, and bFGF mRNA were all positively related to HGF mRNA (all P = 0.000). bFGF and HGF promote angiogenesis and proliferation of gastric cancer, and in involved in tumor invasion and metastasis. They can be used as markers of prognosis of gastric cancer in clinical practice.