Effects of HGF gene polymorphisms and protein expression on transhepatic arterial chemotherapeutic embolism efficacy and prognosis in patients with primary liver cancer

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the correlations of two hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene polymorphisms (rs5745652 and rs2074725) and their protein expression levels with the efficacy of transhepatic arterial chemotherapeutic embolism (TACE) and prognosis in patients with primary liver cancer (PLC).

Methods

From March 2011 to June 2012, 109 PLC patients (the case group) who chose TACE as primary treatment and 80 healthy people (the control group) who had undergone physical examination in The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University were selected during the same period. Gene polymorphisms of HGF rs5745652 and HGF rs2074725 were detected. Serum HGF level, treating efficacy, survival quality, and 3-year survival rate for PLC patients who received TACE were observed.

Results

There were significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies of HGF rs5745652 and HGF rs2074725, between the case and control groups (all P<0.05). Compared with CT+TT genotype of HGF rs5745652, patients carrying CC genotype had lower serum HGF levels, higher efficacy, better survival quality, and prolonged 3-year survival rate (all P<0.05). In rs2074725, patients carrying CA+AA genotype had lower serum HGF levels, higher efficacy, better survival quality, and prolonged 3-year survival rate compared with patients carrying rs2074725 CC genotype (all P<0.05). Gene polymorphisms of HGF rs5745652 and HGF rs2074725, tumor size, and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage were independent prognostic factors for PLC (P<0.05).

Conclusion

Our results indicated that HGF gene polymorphisms affect TACE efficacy and survival quality of PLC patients. Patients with HGF CC genotype of rs5745652 and CA+AA genotype of rs2074725 had decreased HGF level, better curative effect, high survival quality, and a good prognosis after TACE treatment.

Keywords:

• primary liver cancer
• hepatocyte growth factor
• rs5745652
• rs2074725
• gene polymorphisms
• transhepatic arterial chemotherapeutic embolism efficacy
• HGF
• TACE efficacy

Introduction

Primary liver cancer (PLC) is the second most common malignant tumor and leads to 350,000 deaths a year in People’s Republic of China.¹ As the fifth most common cancer in men and the ninth in women, liver cancer is estimated to be the reason for nearly 745,000 deaths in 2012.² The onset of liver cancer is occult and most of the symptoms will not appear until the middle and late stages, thus making it rather difficult to diagnose liver cancer at the early stage.³ The main cause of PLC is hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection, and aflatoxin, alcohol intake, smoking, obesity, and diabetes.⁴ Because of the disease severity or the rarity of suitable organ donors at the time of diagnosis, only a minority of subjects can be treated by the potentially effective therapies such as liver transplantation and surgical resection.⁵ Moreover, due to tumor size and tumor numbers, it is also difficult to apply surgical removal; therefore, transhepatic arterial chemotherapeutic embolism (TACE), a minimally invasive treatment, is the main therapeutic method for patients suffering from liver cancer.⁶ After TACE therapy, tumor markers are needed to predict the prognosis of patients with liver cancer.⁷

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), also known as scatter factor, is a multifunctional growth factor and mesenchyme-derived cytokine with potent neurotrophic, angiogenic, and antiapoptotic effects.⁸ Through the activation of HGF-Met pathway, it can affect tumorigenesis and tumor invasion, and promote the growth, regeneration, and morphogenesis of various types of tissues and cells.⁹ The activation and over-expression of autocrine HGF in cancer cells are considered to be a contributory factor for tumor formation and growth.¹⁰ Evidence showed that the high expressions of HGF mRNA and protein in breast cancer tissue were associated with poor survival rate.¹¹ In addition, another study pointed out that the activity of HGF affects dissemination and ascite formation and HGF secreted by ovarian cancer cells plays an important role in cancer peritoneal implantation.¹² However, researches about, whether, and how HGF gene polymorphisms (rs5745652 and rs2074725) and its protein expression level affect the efficacy of TACE and survival of PLC are still very scarce. Therefore, this paper intends to assess the correlations of efficacy of TACE therapy with HGF gene polymorphisms (rs5745652 and rs2074725) in patients with PLC.

Materials and methods

Ethics statement

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, and written informed consent was obtained from each patient or guardians prior to study.

Research subjects

From March 2011 to June 2012, a total of 109 PLC patients were recruited from The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University who chose TACE as primary treatment (case group, n=109). There were 95 male and 14 female aging 25–76 years (52.27±5.21 years). According to Child-Pugh class,¹³ the patients in case group were classified into: class A, 16 cases and class B, 93 cases. Based on Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging classification,¹⁴ there were 53 cases in stage B and 56 cases in stage C. In terms of the diameter of the tumor, 36 cases were <5 cm and 73 cases were <5 cm. Besides, 47 cases undergone <4 times of TACE treatment and 62 cases <4 times. Inclusion criteria were as follows: 1) patients were diagnosed with PLC based on American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD);¹⁵ 2) expected survival time <3 months; 3) primary treatment was TACE; 4) patients could obtain at least one TACE treatment; 5) volunteer to participate in this research. Exclusion criteria: 1) patients have other malignant tumors or complication with serious chronic diseases; 2) pregnant or breast-feeding women; 3) patients have TACE treatment contraindications or allergic to contrast agent; 4) patients have severe liver dysfunction, active bleeding tendency or severe coagulation disorders; 5) patients refuse to participate in the research. All patients in the study met the inclusion criteria. Meanwhile, 80 healthy people undergone physical examination in our hospital during the same period were selected as control group, including 69 males and 11 females, aging 22–74 years (51.63±6.94 years). The inclusion criteria for the control group are as follows: 1) no history of cancer; 2) no siblingship with patients in case group; 3) volunteer to participate in the study. There was no significant difference in gender or age between the two groups (both P<0.05).

Sample collection

After fasting for 12 h, all subjects were extracted with 8 mL of peripheral venous blood the next morning. Half of the blood samples were anticoagulated with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. After conventional even mixing, the whole blood samples were temporarily stored in refrigerator at 4°C. Whole-genome DNA kit (Shanghai SaiBaiSheng Bioengineering Co., Ltd., Shanghai, People’s Republic of China) was used for extraction of blood samples in accordance with the instruction. The other half samples were placed at room temperature for 2 h before 10 min of 3,000 rpm/min centrifugation. Then the supernatant was stored at −80°C, which was used for the detection of serum HGF protein levels.

The serum HGF protein level was detected before and after TACE treatment. The serum HGF protein was measured by double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Kits were purchased from Rapdbio Company (San Diego, CA, USA) and the operation procedures in strict accordance with the instructions.

Genotyping

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to detect the polymorphism of HGF rs5745652. Primers were designed as follows: upstream 5′-CACGTAGGCTGGAACTGAGT-3′; downstream 5′-ACAGCATTCCAGTA-GTCCCC-3′. PCR primers were designed and synthesized by Takara Biotechnology Co., Ltd.; Dalian, People’s Republic of China. PCR amplification was applied to whole-genome DNA, extracted from blood samples. PCR amplification reaction system includes: double-distilled water (ddH₂O) 17.5 μL, upstream primer 0.5 μL, downstream primer 0.5 μL, Taq DNA polymerase 0.125 μL, deoxy-nucleotide-tri phosphate 2 (dNTP 2) μL, 10× ESTaq slow release liquid 2.5 μL, and DNA 1 μL. PCR reaction conditions: pre-denaturation for 5 min at 95°C, then a total of 36 cycles of denaturation for 30 s at 95°C, annealing for 45 s at 56°C, extending for 1 min at 72°C, and at last extending for 5 min at 72°C. Conditions for PCR product restriction enzyme reaction were ddH₂O 1.0 μL, 10× buffer 1.0 μL, 10 μg/μL bovine serum albumin 0.5 μL, template 7 μL, and HpaII endonuclease 0.5 μL. After being placed into thermostat at 37°C for a night, products of restriction enzyme digestion were analyzed with 3% agarose gel electrophoresis.

Polymorphism of HGF rs2074725 was detected by single allele-specific primer (SASP-PCR). The primer sequences are as follows: upstream primer P1-C (wild): 5′-CAAATTATAGTCCAGAGCTTACC-3′; P1-A (mutant): 5′-CAAATTATAGTCCAGAGCTTACA-3′; downstream primer P2: 5′-TCTTGTGCCAAAACGAAAC-3′. PCR primers were designed and synthesized by Takara Biotechnology (Dalian) Co., Ltd. PCR reaction: two PCR reactions are needed to detect the gene type of every research object, one reaction using P1-C and the other P1-A with all other conditions the same. PCR total volume is 20 μL with dNTP 1 μL, 10× buffer 2 μL, Taq enzyme 0.2 μL DNA, primers each 1 μL. PCR amplification was performed after short-time centrifugation. PCR reaction conditions: pre-denaturation for 5 min at 94°C, then denaturation for 40 s at 94°C, annealing for 40 s at 56°C, extending for 1 min at 72°C, for a total of 35 cycles, and at last extending for 10 times at 72°C before being stored at 4°C. Seven percent agarose gel electrophoresis was used as amplifier, ethidium bromide was used for staining, and electrophoresis results were detected under ultraviolet light. Experimental reagents were all purchased from Shanghai Bioleaf Biotech Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, People’s Republic of China).

TACE regimens

The right femoral artery of patients was punctured and conventional skin disinfection was performed. The percutaneous transarterial access to the hepatic artery or its branches was obtained through Seldinger technique. Hepatic artery angiography was performed to identify the proper hepatic artery supplying the tumor. Then microcatheter was sent into the blood supplying artery to inject 40–60 mg cisplatin, 6–10 mg mitomycin C, and 1,000 mg fluorouracil per square meter of body surface area, and the mixture of 30 mg pirarubicin and 8–20 mL of 40% iodized oil was injected per square meter of body surface area. Gelatin sponge embolization of the target artery was the last step of the TACE treatment. The treatment was performed every 4–6 weeks. The reagents used in the experiment were purchased from Sangon Biotech Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, People’s Republic of China).

Efficacy criteria of TACE

The curative effect of TACE therapy for PLC was evaluated according to the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors.¹⁶ Complete response (CR) means that liver tumor disappears without new lesions occurred, and tumor markers are normal for at least 4 weeks. Partial response (PR) means that the decrease in the sum of the longest diameter (LD) of liver tumor is over 30% for at least 4 weeks. Stable disease (SD) means that the decrease in the sum of the LD of the liver tumor was not up to PR or the increase was not up to Progress disease (PD). PD means that the increase in the sum of the LD of the liver tumor is at least 20%, or new lesions appear. Effective includes CR and PR and ineffective includes SD and PD.

Follow-up

All patients were followed-up for 3 years until December 31, 2015. Life quality of patients was observed and Karnofsky score¹⁷ was used to evaluate the survival quality of patients before and after treatment and 3 months after treatment. The survival time and 3-year survival rate of the patients were observed. Calculation criterion of survival time is taken from treatment ending to the last follow-up or patients’ death.

Statistical analysis

The statistical analyses were conducted with SPSS Version 21.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Measurement data presented by x–± s were compared using an unpaired t-test. Categorical data presented by ratio or percentage were compared by chi-square test. Chi-square goodness-of-fit test used to confirm whether genotype distribution in the control group is consistent with the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium or not. Kaplan–Meier estimator was used to analyze survival quality, and survival time was compared using log-rank test. P-value was two-tailed test and <0.05 was considered statistically different.

Results

Electrophoresis results of PCR products

The PCR products were digested by restriction enzyme HpaII and polymorphism was detected in HGF gene rs5745652 (Figure 1A). Gene typing was performed according to the electrophoresis results of enzyme digestion products. The enzyme digestion products of HGF rs5745652 gene included gene fragments of 541, 417, and 123 bp, which were mutant heterozygous CT; gene fragments of 252 and 124 bp, which were mutant homozygous CC; gene fragment of 376 bp, which was wild-type homozygous TT. SASP-PCR results showed the existence of polymorphism at rs2074725 site of HGF gene. The 1, 3, and 5 lanes were the electrophoresis results of PCR with the addition of P1-C primer, and the 2, 4, and 6 lanes were the electrophoresis results of PCR with the addition of P1-A primer, including wild type CC (5 and 6 lanes), mutant heterozygous CA (1 and 2 lanes), and mutant homozygous AA (3 and 4 lanes) (Figure 1B).

Figure 1 Enzyme digestion results of rs5745652 and rs2074725 sites of the HGF gene.

Notes: (A) Enzyme digestion results of the rs5745652 site; (B) enzyme digestion results of the rs2074725 site.
Abbreviation: HGF, hepatocyte growth factor.

Distribution of genotype and allele frequencies of two HGF gene polymorphisms

Both in the control group and the case group, rs5745652 and rs2074725 of HGF gene achieved Hardy–Weinberg genetic equilibrium in terms of polymorphism genotype and allele frequency distribution. Table 1 shows the TT genotype, CT genotype, CC genotype, and allele frequency of HGF gene rs5745652 in case group were significantly different from those in the control group (all P<0.05), and allele C was a protective gene (P<0.001, odds ratio [OR] =0.338, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.207–0.553). The CC genotype, CA genotype, AA genotype, and allele frequency of HGF gene rs2074725 in the case group were significantly different from those in the control group (all P<0.05), and allele A was a protective gene (P<0.001, OR =0.301, 95% CI: 0.181–0.502).

Table 1 Distribution of genotype and allele frequencies of two HGF gene polymorphisms in the case and control groups

SNPs	Control group (n=80)	Case group (n=109)	P-value	OR (95% CI)
rs5745652
TT	2 (2.5)	21 (19.3)	Reference
CT	24 (30.0)	42 (38.5)	0.012	0.167 (0.036–0.777)
CC	54 (67.5)	46 (42.2)	<0.001	0.081 (0.018–0.365)
T	28 (17.5)	84 (38.5)	Reference
C	132 (82.5)	134 (61.5)	<0.001	0.338 (0.207–0.553)
rs2074725
CC	36 (45.0)	84 (77.1)	Reference
CA	34 (42.5)	22 (20.2)	0.001	0.277 (0.143–0.538)
AA	10 (12.5)	3 (2.8)	0.001	0.129 (0.033–0.495)
C	106 (66.3)	189 (86.7)	Reference
A	54 (33.7)	29 (13.3)	<0.001	0.301 (0.181–0.502)

Note: Data presented as n (%).

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; HGF, hepatocyte growth factor; SNPs, single nucleotide polymorphisms; OR, odds ratio.

Serum HGF protein level changes of two HGF gene polymorphisms before and after treatment

The changes of serum HGF protein level in the patients of different HGF genotype before and after treatment are shown in Table 2. The pretreatment serum HGF protein levels in patients carrying different genotypes of HGF gene rs5745652 and rs2074725 were not different from posttreatment levels (both P<0.05), and HGF levels of all patients were significantly reduced after treatment compared with before treatment (all P<0.05). CT genotype at HGF rs5745652 was too few in number, so we combined genotype CT and TT as CT+TT genotype. After treatment, the serum HGF level of CC genotype was significantly lower than that of CT+TT genotype (P<0.05). Since AA genotype at HGF rs2074725 was also too few in number, we combined AA and CA genotypes as CA+AA genotype. After treatment, the serum HGF level of CA+AA genotype was significantly lower than that of CC genotype (P<0.05) (Table 2).

Table 2 Serum HGF protein level changes of each HGF genotypes before and after treatment between the case and control groups

SNP	Cases	HGF (pg/mL)
		Before	After
rs5745652
CT+TT	63	1,422.16±137.17	1,115.92±67.07a
CC	46	1,425.07±159.65	1,002.87±113.91a,b
rs2074725
CC	84	1,435.37±142.25	1,109.19±75.09a
CA+AA	25	1,383.10±155.67	930.52±70.60a,c

Notes:

a Compared with before treatment, P<0.05,

b compared with rs574565 CT+TT genotype, P<0.05,

c compared with rs2074725 CC genotype, P<0.05.

Abbreviations: HGF, hepatocyte growth factor; SNP, single nucleotide polymorphism.

Comparisons of TACE curative effect of each HGF genotype between the case and control groups

Three months after treatment, 36 cases of patients with HGF rs5745652 CC genotype were effective with a total efficacy rate of 78.26% and 26 cases of CT+TT genotype were effective with a total efficacy rate of 41.27%, indicating that in terms of treatment efficacy, patients carrying CT+TT genotype were much lower than those carrying CC genotype (P<0.05). When it comes to the HGF rs2074725, 20 cases of CA+AA genotype were effective with a total efficacy rate of 80.00% and 42 cases of CC genotype were effective with a total efficacy rate of 50.00%, which demonstrated that the total treatment efficacy in patients carrying CC genotype was much lower than those carrying CA+AA genotype (P<0.05) (Table 3).

Table 3 Comparisons of TACE curative effect of each HGF genotypes between the case and control groups

SNP	Cases	Effective	Ineffective	Total efficacy rate (%)	P-value
rs5745652					0.012
CT+TT	63	26	37	41.27
CC	46	36	10	78.26
rs2074725					0.008
CC	84	42	42	50.00
CA+AA	25	20	5	80.00

Abbreviations: HGF, hepatocyte growth factor; SNP, single nucleotide polymorphism; TACE, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.

Comparisons of survival quality of each HGF genotype between the case and control groups

As shown in Table 4, there was no significant difference in the Karnofsky scores before and after the treatment on different HGF genotype (P<0.05). Three months after TACE treatment, patients carrying CC genotype at HGF rs5745652 or CA+AA genotype at HGF rs2074725 got higher Karnofsky score than before treatment (P<0.05). Patients of CC genotype had higher Karnofsky score than those of CT+TT genotype at HGF rs5745652, and patients of CA+AA genotype had higher Karnofsky score than those of CC genotype at HGF rs2074725 (all P<0.05).

Table 4 Comparisons of survival quality of each HGF genotypes between the case and control groups

SNPs	Case	Before	After	3-month follow-up
rs5745652
CT+TT	63	59.88±13.33	59.35±9.66	69.57±10.47a
CC	46	63.38±10.88	63.39±10.28	76.28±9.33a,b
rs2074725
CC	84	60.85±13.17	60.27±9.99	70.67±10.52a
CA+AA	25	63.07±9.53	63.71±10.11	78.19±8.27a,c

Notes:

a Compared with before treatment, P<0.05,

b compared with rs574565 CT+TT genotype, P<0.05,

c compared with rs2074725 CC genotype, P<0.05. Data presented as mean ± standard deviation.

Abbreviations: SNPs, single nucleotide polymorphisms; HGF, hepatocyte growth factor.

Analysis of HGF rs5745652 polymorphism and the survival rate of patients with PLC

All patients were followed-up by telephone or regular outpatient follow-up and the last follow-up was conducted on July 30, 2015. Survival curves of patients carrying CT+TT genotype or CC genotype at rs5745652 site of HGF are shown in Figure 2A. Patients carrying CC genotype at HGF rs5745652 had a 3-year survival rate of 30.43% (14/46), while patients carrying CT+TT genotype at HGF rs5745652 had a 3-year survival rate of 6.35% (4/63), indicating that patients with CC genotype had higher 3-year survival rate than CT+TT genotype in this aspect (P<0.05). Patients carrying CA+AA genotype at HGF rs2074725 had a 3-year survival rate of 44.00% (11/25), which was significantly higher than those carrying CC genotype at HGF rs2074725 of 8.00% (7/84) (P<0.05) (Figure 2B).

Figure 2 Kaplan–Meier survival functions.

Notes: (A) Survival functions of each rs5745652 genotype; (B) survival functions of each rs2074725 genotype.

Cox regression analyses

Factors included in the Cox proportional risk model were HGF rs5745652 and HGF rs2074725, age, gender, tumor size, BCLC stage, and TACE treatment frequency. The results showed that rs5745652 and rs2074725 polymorphisms, tumor size, and BCLC stage were independent factors for prognosis of patients with PLC (all P<0.05) (Table 5).

Table 5 Cox regression analysis of prognostic factors of PLA TACE therapy

Factor	B	SE	Wald	P-value	OR (95% CI)
rs5745652 site	−0.592	0.268	4.894	0.027	0.553 (0.327–0.935)
rs2074725 site	−0.827	0.289	8.181	0.004	0.438 (0.248–0.771)
BCLC stage	1.206	0.339	12.638	<0.001	3.339 (1.718–6.492)
Tumor size	0.719	0.310	5.387	0.020	2.052 (1.118–3.767)
TACE frequency	−0.367	0.298	1.521	0.217	0.693 (0.386–1.242)
Gender	0.553	0.365	2.286	0.131	1.738 (0.849–3.557)
Age	0.005	0.021	0.050	0.823	1.005 (0.964–1.048)

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; BCLC, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer; OR, odds ratio; PLA, primary liver cancer; SE, standard error; TACE, transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.

Discussion

It was reported that genetic change and expression change accordingly can affect the malignant progression and prognosis of tumors.^18,19 Therefore, study on the relation of HGF gene polymorphisms with TACE efficacy and survival has great significance. This study proved that HGF polymorphisms affect the efficacy of TACE and survival quality of PLC patients. Patients carrying HGF CC genotype of rs5745652 or CA+AA genotype of rs2074725 have lower HGF level, better curative effect, higher survival quality, and better prognosis after treatment.

In this study, we found that the allele C of HGF rs5745652 and the A allele of the HGF rs2074725 are protective genes. HGF is a kind of multifunctional and heterogeneous polypeptide produced by mesenchymal cells and it can mediate the growth and dispersion of different types of cells.²⁰ HGF can promote the generation of new blood vessels in tumors through activation mechanism and create conditions for the growth and transfer of tumor.^21,22 Evidence has shown that patients with liver cancer had significantly higher serum HGF levels than those without liver cancer.²³ HGF and its receptor c-Met will form a paracrine signaling cycle to mediate the development and progression of cancers.²⁴ A study has confirmed that upregulated expression of growth factors, including HGF, and the activation of their signaling pathway play an important role in the formation of liver cancer.²⁵ Another study noted that the “A” allele is a protective gene, which is consistent with the result of this paper.²⁶ Besides, a previous study has demonstrated that the function of the spleen is deteriorating and serum HGF protein levels can be elevated in patients with liver cirrhosis due to overexpression of HGF protein by the spleen.²⁷ Furthermore, patients with chronic hepatitis C have also proved that higher HGF concentrations were correlated with increased fibrosis and angiogenesis and have indicated a higher risk of PLC development.^28–31

In this study, we found that the serum HGF level in patients carrying rs5745652 CC genotype was significantly lower than those carrying the CT+TT genotype, and the total efficacy rate of patients carrying CC genotype was significantly higher than those carrying CT+TT genotype. Serum HGF level of patients carrying rs2074725 CA+AA genotype was significantly lower than those carrying the CC genotype, and the total efficacy rate of CA+AA genotype patients was significantly higher than those carrying the CC genotype. It has been demonstrated that HGF levels were higher in cancer cell lines than in normal hepatocyte cell lines, and HGF upregulation can directly promote the mesenchymal and tumorigenic properties in liver cancer through the activation of Akt and COX-2 pathways.³² Therefore, serum HGF increase may implicate in the occurrence and progression of liver cancer. A study has shown that the transcription activity of HGF-1652 T allele was less than that of C allele so TT genotype carriers were more likely to get end-stage liver disease (ESLD) than CT or CC genotype carriers, and accordingly the total efficacy rate of T genotype carriers will be lower.³³ A research by Motone et al showed that serum HGF level in rs2074725 CC genotype carriers was much higher than that in CA or AA genotype carriers and the liver HGF secretion of CC genotype carriers increased indicating that the total efficacy rate of TACE therapy will be lower in CC genotype carriers than in CA+AA genotype carriers.³⁴

The study found that the Karnofsky scores of patients carrying HGF rs5745652 CC genotype or carrying HGF rs2074725 CA+AA genotype were significantly enhanced than before TACE treatment, and they were higher than those of counterpart CT+TT genotype or CC genotype carriers, respectively. The 3-year survival rates of the former two were also higher than that of the latter ones. Chemoembolization is an important therapy for patients with liver cancer, and the continuous elevation of serum HGF level after TACE may be associated with the postoperative tumor metastasis.³² Serum HGF level, as an important tumor marker, is closely related to metastasis and recurrence of some tumors, and high HGF level is not beneficial to the prognosis.^35–37 There fore, with a relatively low serum HGF level, rs5745652 CC genotype and rs2074725 CA+AA genotype are conducive to the treatment of PLC and the improvement of patients’ survival rate.

This study pointed out that the HGF gene polymorphisms can influence the efficacy of TACE and survival quality of PLC patients. Specifically, the HGF level of patients carrying HGF CC genotype of rs5745652 or HGF CA+AA genotype of rs2074725 was decreased after TACE, which was related to superior curative effect, survival quality, and prognosis. However, the mechanism of how HGF gene rs5745652 site and rs2074725 affect the occurrence, development, and prognosis of PLC has not been clarified, and follow-up study is still needed.

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the helpful comments on this paper received from our reviewers.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.