Faculty Collaboration Database

The expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and c-Met in uterine serous carcinoma. Gynecol Oncol 2011 Apr;121(1):218-23

Date

12/21/2010

Pubmed ID

21168200

DOI

10.1016/j.ygyno.2010.11.031

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-79952814060 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   16 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor c-Met plays an important role in tumor dissemination by activating mitogenic signaling pathways. The goal of this study was to investigate immunohistochemical (IHC) staining patterns of HGF and c-Met in endometrioid endometrial cancer (EC) and uterine serous cancer (USC) and to correlate staining with patient outcomes.

METHODS: A tissue microarray was created using tissue from patients with atrophic endometrium (AE), grade 1 EC, grade 3 EC, and USC. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect c-Met, phosphorylated c-Met (p-c-Met), and HGF expression. Differences between IHC staining intensity were calculated using t-tests. Correlations between staining and clinicopathologic variables were determined by Chi-square testing for categorical variables and t-tests for continuous variables. Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed to analyze survival in USC.

RESULTS: Patients with cancer had more total c-Met and HGF expression than those with AE (p=0.037, p<0.001 respectively), but no difference in p-c-Met staining. Total c-Met and HGF staining was significantly different between groups (p=0.042, p<0.001 respectively). This difference was accounted for by greater c-MET expression in USC compared to AE (p=0.027). Depth of invasion, stage, and lymph node status were not significantly related to staining intensity. Patients with strong c-Met and HGF staining had decreased overall survival compared to patients with weaker staining.

CONCLUSIONS: HGF and c-Met may play a role in the progression of endometrial cancer and should be studied further as prognostic and therapeutic tools.

Author List

Bishop EA, Lengyel ER, Yamada SD, Montag A, Temkin SM

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Aged
Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous
Female
Hepatocyte Growth Factor
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Microarray Analysis
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Staging
Phosphorylation
Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
Uterine Neoplasms