Expression of the hepatocyte growth factor/c-Met pathway is increased at the cancer front in breast carcinoma

Genichiro Edakuni, Eizaburo Sasatomi, Toshimi Satoh, Osamu Tokunaga, Kohji Miyazaki

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

105 Scopus citations

Abstract

Expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and c-Met (HGF receptor) has been reported in many neoplasms. We investigated coexpression of HGF and c-Met to determine the role of the HGF/c-Met pathway in breast carcinoma, especially at the cancer front. Eighty-eight cases of carcinoma of the breast were studied by immunohistochemistry and by in situ hybridization for HGF and c-Met expression. The staining pattern was termed 'front accentuation pattern' when it was most conspicuous at the cancer front. HGF and c-Met proteins were expressed in cancer and stromal cells, with autocrine and paracrine patterns. The front accentuation pattern of c-Met was observed in cancer cells, but not in stromal cells. The front accentuation pattern was not observed in HGF. Coexpression of HGF and c-Met at the cancer front was correlated with histologic grade, reduced patient survival and a high Ki-67 labeling index. Our findings suggest that the HGF/c-Met pathway acts primarily as a mitogen, especially at the cancer front, in a paracrine manner and affects some clinical factors, including patient survival.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)172-178
Number of pages7
JournalPathology International
Volume51
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Breast carcinoma
  • Cancer front
  • Hepatocyte growth factor
  • Ki-67 labeling index
  • c-Met

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine

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