The role of HGF/c-MET in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

摘要: Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) remains a formidable challenge to physicians, scientists, patients. New targets that can be exploited improve the outcome of patients afflicted with this dreadful disease are desperately needed: one such potential target is c-MET. The c-MET receptor tyrosine kinase, also known as hepatocyte growth factor (HGFR), robustly overexpressed sometimes mutated or amplified in head neck cancer cells, while overexpression its ligand, factor/scatter (HGF/SF), often occurs tumor-adjacent mesenchymal providing paracrine signals support tumor growth. Activation stimulates numerous downstream signaling pathways contribute growth, including GRB2/RAS, PI3K, STAT3, SRC, β-catenin, Notch. Overexpression anomalous activation associated resistance targeted therapies inhibiting kinases (RTKs), epidermal (EGFR), communicate similar cascades. In review, we emphasize role c-MET/HGF HNSCC well for therapeutic targeting receptor.