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Targeting Met:
Inhibiting tumor cell growth and invasion

Met

Met signaling can lead to invasive cancer growth.1,2 Met is primarily activated through binding of its ligand, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), also known as scatter factor (SF).1,2 Met and/or HGF/SF expression in a variety of tumor types correlates with worse prognosis.1,2 Met signaling can be enhanced in tumor cells through overexpression of Met protein (with or without gene amplification), mutations in the gene encoding MET, and/or increased levels of active HGF/SF.1,2

MET Pathway
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Met signals predominantly through the adapter proteins Gab1 and Grb2.1 Pathways activated by Met include Ras/MAPK, Rac/Rho, and PI3K/Akt.1,2 Through these key pathways, Met activation in tumor cells may lead to:

  • Stimulation of uncontrolled cell proliferation1,2
  • Promotion of cell survival under environmental/therapeutic stress1,2
  • Modification of cell-cell adhesion and induction of motility and invasion1,2
References:
1.
Birchmeier C, Birchmeier W, Gherardi E, Vande Woude GF. Met, metastasis, motility and more. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2003;4:915-925. PMID: 14685170
2.
Abounader R, Laterra J. Scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor in brain tumor growth and angiogenesis. Neuro Oncol. 2005;7:436-451. PMID: 16212809