Hepatocyte Growth Factor and c-Met/Hepatocyte Growth Factor Receptor in Pulmonary Adenocarcinomas: An Evaluation of Their Expression as Prognostic Markers

Authors:
  • FTFumihiko Tanana
    Fumihiko Tanana
  • THToshinori Hashizume
    Toshinori Hashizume
  • KKKeiichi Kikuchi
    Keiichi Kikuchi
  • YYYasuki Yamamoto
    Yasuki Yamamoto
  • TYTatsuya Yamamoto
    Tatsuya Yamamoto
  • SKSusumu Kodaira
    Susumu Kodaira
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor, c-Met, was investigated immunohistologically in tissue specimens of patients with a pulmonary adenocarcinoma. The prognosis was significantly worse in the HGF-positive or c-Met-positive patients than in the negative patients. Multivariate analysis showed that c-Met had a significant effect on the prognosis, whereas HGF did not. Our findings suggest that HGF and c-Met play an important role in tumor progression and that c-Met can be a useful prognostic marker for pulmonary adenocarcinomas.