[Correlation between anti-tumor effects and serum hepatocyte growth factor level in patients with liver metastases from gastric cancer treated by induced hypertensive chemotherapy with angiotensin II].

To clarify the clinical significance of serum hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), the possible correlation between anti-tumor effect and serum HGF level was examined in six patients with liver metastases from gastric cancer. These patients were treated by induced hypertensive chemotherapy with angiotensin II (IHC). We measured the serum concentration of HGF and compared them with the anti-tumor effect and conventional tumor makers (CEA, CA 19-9). The cut-off level of serum HGF was prescribed at 0.4 ng/ml from healthy volunteer's samples. As the result, anti-tumor effects were one case of CR, two of PR, one of NC and two of PD. Serum HGF levels before IHC were positive in all cases (0.44 to 1.35 ng/ml), whereas the levels were not related to the extent of liver metastases. With regard to the anti-tumor effect, the serum HGF level after IHC was more sensitively reflected compared with conventional tumor markers. In conclusion, it is considered that the serum HGF level might be a useful indicator for the treatment effect in gastric cancer.