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Immunoblot analysis of c-Met expression in human colorectal cancer: Overexpression is associated with advanced stage cancer

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Abstract

c-Met, the receptor of hepatocyte growth factor is known to be responsible for the motility and mitogenesis of epithelial cells including cancer cells. To investigate the significance of c-Met expression in human colorectal cancer (CRC), total cellular protein, extracted from 130 CRCs were examined by Western blot analysis. The signal was quantitated by ChemiImager™ 4000 Low Light Imaging System. c-Met expression was analyzed as the ratio of tumor to matched normal tissue (T/N) and expressed as fold-increase. The cellular localization of c-Met was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The T/N fold increase of c-Met varied from 0.2 to 10.7 with a mean of 3.41 ± 0.23 (mean ± SE). 69% primary CRC showed overexpression (T/N >2.0) of c-Met. Significantly higher c-Met levels were found in CRC with blood vessel invasion (P = 0.04), and in advanced stage (P = 0.04). No relationship was noted between c-Met expression and age, tumor size, location, differentiation. C-Met immunoreactivity was observed in the membrane and cytoplasm of cancer cells. Positive staining of endothelial cells of blood vessels within normal submucosa and tumor was also evident. C-Met protein is expressed at levels significantly higher than adjacent mucosa in most primary adenocarcinomas of the colon. Our results support an important role for c-Met in human CRC progression and metastasis.

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Abbreviations

BVI:

blood vessel invasion

c-Met:

receptor of hepatocyte growth factor

CRC:

colorectal cancer

HGF:

hepatocyte growth factor

LVI:

lymphatic vessel invasion

MMPs:

matrix metalloproteinases

SF:

scatter factor

u-PA:

urokinase-type plasminogen activator

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Colorectal Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, 10021, New York, NY, USA

    Zhaoshi Zeng, Martin R Weiser, Matt D’Alessio, Andrew Grace & Philip B. Paty

  2. Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA

    Jinru Shia

Authors
  1. Zhaoshi Zeng
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  2. Martin R Weiser
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  3. Matt D’Alessio
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  4. Andrew Grace
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  5. Jinru Shia
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  6. Philip B. Paty
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Correspondence to Philip B. Paty.

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Zeng, Z., Weiser, M.R., D’Alessio, M. et al. Immunoblot analysis of c-Met expression in human colorectal cancer: Overexpression is associated with advanced stage cancer. Clin Exp Metastasis 21, 409–417 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10585-005-1617-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10585-005-1617-4

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