HGF and cancer: As elevated serum levels of the tumour-associated glycoprotein lectin, galactoside-binding, soluble, 3 binding protein (LGALS3BP) (Table 2a) are often observed in cancer patients, and have been proven to be of prognostic value (Marchetti et al, 2002), the findings that both gastrin and HGF upregulate the expression of LGALS3BP justify studies exploring LGALS3BP expression in carcinoid tumour patients as well.