c-Met concentration as a correlation factor to tumor size and stage in head and neck cancer

Introduction:

Head and neck cancer ranks sixth among the most common cancer entities worldwide. Successively, time-dependent accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations in growth, cell cycle and apoptosis regulation, as well as signal transduction, may lead to the development of squamous cell carcinoma. The signal transduction by tyrosine kinase receptors plays an important role. MET (Mesenchymal Epithelial Transition Factor) is a proto-oncogene whose gene product is the receptor tyrosine kinase c-MET. C-MET was first detected in human osteosarcoma cells in 1984. It acts as a growth factor receptor with their specific ligand HGF (Hepatocyte Growth Factor).

Methods:

During the period from 01/2011 to 02/2013, 41 patients with head and neck cancer received panendoscopy and staging examinations. The tissue was subsequently examined pathologically and immunohistochemically and the c-MET activity in the tumor tissue was determined.

Results:

The investigations showed that the tumor stages T3 and T4 are associated with an increased expression of c-MET. Furthermore, more extensive tumor stages and locoregional metastasis were associated with increased c-MET activity.

Conclusions:

The 5-year survival rates of patients with head and neck cancer are below 50% despite the interdisciplinary collaboration of ENT surgeons, radiologists, radiotherapists and oncologists. The detection of additional sites in carcinogenesis serves to drive the development and application of new target inhibitors. To what extent c-MET can be a factor for metastasis, long-term prognosis or therapy control is the subject of further investigations.

Publication History

Publication Date:
23 April 2019 (online)