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Impact of c-Met expression on angiogenesis in soft tissue sarcomas: correlation to microvessel-density

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Abstract

Purpose and methods

The c-Met protein is significant for oncogenesis and angiogenesis within the c-Met/HGF/SF-mediator system. The aim of this study was the analysis of c-Met immunoexpression/-synthesis and microvessel density as parameters for angiogenesis and prognosis in 115 soft tissue sarcomas.

Results

C-Met could be detected by immunohistochemistry in 87% of sarcomas. In all, 60.9% of cases exhibited absent or faint expression of c-Met protein, and 39.1% high expression of c-Met protein with a correlation between tumor grading and c-Met immunoexpression. Using in situ hybridization with detection of c-met-mRNA-transcripts, c-Met protein synthesis within tumor cells could be demonstrated. A statistically significant correlation between c-Met immunoexpression and tumor microvessel density was found. No prognostic value of c-Met expression and microvessel density could be detected in 56 patients with clinical follow-up (P=0.8506 and P=0.9329 for disease-free survival).

Conclusions

The results underline a role of c-Met as an oncoprotein in soft tissue sarcomas with correlation between immunoexpression and grading. The statistically significant correlation between c-Met expression and microvessel density (as a parameter of tumor angiogenesis) suggests an angiogenic function of the c-Met/HGF/SF mediator system in malignant mesenchymal tumors.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the excellent technical assistance of Susanne Schaub-Kuhnen and Cornelia Troske (Institute for Pathology, University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Pathology, Limb tumor registry, University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany

    Cornelius Kuhnen, Maria Honsel, Edina Tolnay & Klaus-Michael Müller

  2. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital, Hannover Medical School, Podbielskistrasse 380, 30659, Hannover, Germany

    Thomas Muehlberger

  3. Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Hand Surgery-Burn Centre, Limb tumor registry, University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany

    Hans Ulrich Steinau

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  1. Cornelius Kuhnen
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  2. Thomas Muehlberger
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  3. Maria Honsel
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  4. Edina Tolnay
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  5. Hans Ulrich Steinau
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Correspondence to Cornelius Kuhnen.

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Kuhnen, C., Muehlberger, T., Honsel, M. et al. Impact of c-Met expression on angiogenesis in soft tissue sarcomas: correlation to microvessel-density. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 129, 415–422 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-003-0456-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-003-0456-4

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