What is Met?

Met is a cell surface receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) first discovered as a translocation product in a cancer cell line treated with a mutagen.^1-3 Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) is the only known high affinity Met ligand; HGF/SF promotes hepatocyte proliferation and epithelial cell motility.^1,3-5

HGF/SF binding to Met stimulates receptor dimerization and activates Met signaling.^1-3 Once activated, the Met kinase domain mediates signaling through adaptor proteins and other signaling proteins.^1,4,5

Met signaling promotes activation of cellular signaling pathways that may lead to cell proliferation, modification of cell-cell adhesion, cell survival in response to environmental or therapeutic stress and induction of motility and invasion.^1,4,6

Met and its ligand HGF/SF are frequently overexpressed in a variety of human cancers.^1,6

References:

1.

Gherardi E, et al. Nature Rev Cancer. 2008;14:6171-6180. PMID: 22270953

2.

Cooper C, et al. Nature. 1984;311(5981):29-33. PMID: 6590967

3.

Peschard P, Park M. Oncogene.2007;26:1276-1285. PMID: 17322912

4.

Trusolino L, et al. Nature Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2010;11:834-848. PMID: 21102609

5.

Liu X, et al. Trends in Mol Med. 2010;16(1):37-45. PMID: 20031486

6.

Birchmeier C, et al. Nature Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2003;4:915-925. PMID: 14685170