title: Regulation of uveal melanoma interconverted phenotype by hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF).
abstract: Human uveal melanoma disseminates initially and preferentially to the liver. This study describes the relationship between the expression of the c-met proto-oncogene (receptor for hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF)) in interconverted uveal melanoma cells (co-expressing vimentin and keratin intermediate filaments) and the regulation of their motogenic response to HGF/SF, a key step in local invasion and targeted dissemination to the liver. Expression of c-met in uveal melanoma cell lines correlates with both the appearance of an interconverted phenotype and invasive ability (measured in vitro). Using chemotactic checkerboard analysis, the greatest motogenic response to HGF/SF was achieved by invasive, interconverted, c-met-positive uveal melanoma cells. C-met was observed histologically in a uveal melanoma containing interconverted cells but was absent in a tumor composed of non-interconverted cells (vimentin positive/keratin negative). The c-met ligand, HGF/SF, although not expressed by uveal melanoma cell lines, was localized in tissue sections of primary uveal melanomas and metastatic melanoma to the liver. In the primary tumor, staining for HGF/SF was most intense at the level of the choriocapillaris, a finding that is significant because 1) highly remodeled neovascular loops and networks, which appear in tumors likely to disseminate, can be traced to the choriocapillaris and the draining vortex veins and 2) HGF/SF plays a role in tumor angiogenesis. Foci of metastatic melanoma to the liver stain diffusely for HGF/SF. Regulation of the uveal melanoma interconverted phenotype by HGF/SF may play an important role in the dissemination of this tumor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Iowa Cancer Center, The University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City 52242-1109, USA. mary-hendrix@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hendrix
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Seftor
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Seftor
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Kirschmann
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Boldt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pe'er
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Folberg
mesh_terms: D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008954:Models, Biological; D011379:Prognosis; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014604:Uveal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D014746:Vimentin; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D007633:Keratins; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met