Expression level of hepatoma-derived growth factor correlates with tumor recurrence of esophageal carcinoma

Hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) is thought to play an important role in the development and progression of carcinomas. In the present study, association of HDGF expression with recurrence and prognosis of esophageal carcinoma (EC) was examined.

HDGF expression in 111 patients with EC (101 men and 10 women) with ages ranging from 38 to 82 (median, 61) years was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Samples in which >90% of tumor cells exhibited nuclear and cytoplasmic HDGF immunoreactivity at levels greater than or equal to what is observed in the endothelial cells were regarded as HDGF expression level 1, and others as HDGF expression level 0.

Thirty-seven of 111 patients showed level 1 HDGF expression. There was no correlation between HDGF expression and other clinicopathologic factors. Patients with level 1 expression showed poorer disease-free and overall survival (P < .05 for both) compared with those with level 0 expression. HDGF expression was an independent prognostic factor for patients with early (pT1-2) stage of the disease, but not for those with advanced (pT3-4) stage.

HDGF expression level was shown to be a prognostic factor for EC.