title: High frequency of c-Met expression in gastric cancers producing alpha- fetoprotein.
abstract: Gastric cancers producing alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) have a poor prognosis and a high incidence of liver metastasis. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor, c-Met, are known to induce mitosis and cell movement and to promote tumor progression. In the present study, c-Met and HGF expression in AFP-producing gastric cancer was compared with those gastric cancers that do not produce AFP. Twenty-six patients with AFP-producing gastric cancers [AFP(+)] and 26 patients stage-matched gastric cancers without AFP production [AFP(-)] were evaluated for c-Met and HGF expression and proliferating cell nuclear antigen-labelling index using immunohistochemical analysis. A higher frequency of c-Met expression was observed in the AFP(+) group than in the AFP(-) group (p < 0.01). A higher expression of c-Met might be one explanation for the poorer prognosis of AFP-producing gastric cancers.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, Yamanashi Medical University, Yamanashi, Japan. hidekia@res.yamanashi-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amemiya
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kono
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ichihara
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iizuka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sekikawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002455:Cell Division; D005260:Female; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met