Open AccessDoes hepatocyte growth factor/c‐Met signal play synergetic role in lung cancer?
Author(s) -
Wang Xiangdong,
Li Ka,
Chen Hong,
Wang Diane,
Zhang Yong,
Bai Chunxue
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2010.01040.x
Subject(s) - hepatocyte growth factor , c met , epidermal growth factor receptor , cancer research , lung cancer , signal transduction , hepatocyte growth factor receptor , metastasis , growth factor , epidermal growth factor , biology , cancer , growth factor receptor , receptor , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology
• Introduction • Does HGF/c‐Met signalIplay a role in lung cancer? • Can the HGF/c‐Met signal be blocked? • Does HGF/c‐Met regulate VEGF production? • Does HGF/c‐Met interact with MMPs? • Does HGF/c‐Met play a synergetic role? • Does HGF/c‐Met contribute to EGRFI therapeutic sensitivity?There is growing evidence that the signal pathway between hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor c‐Met plays an important role in the development of lung cancer, although the specificity of such role is to be clarified. It seems clear that the HGF/c‐Met signal contributes to the metastasis of cancer cells to the lung by stimulating the hyperproduction and overactivation of cytokines and enzymes, e.g. HGF, vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteases. The HGF/c‐Met signal may act as the candidate responsible for the development of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase inhibitor resistance. Experimental evidence showed that the combination of both EGFR and c‐Met inhibitors had synergetic or additive therapeutic effects on lung cancer. Although the mechanism of interaction between HGF/c‐Met and transforming growth factor‐a/EGFR remains unclear, the cross‐talk and balance between those two signal pathways are critical and necessary in the development of new therapies for lung cancer.