Coexpression of hepatocyte growth factor and its receptor c-Met correlates with high MIB-1 proliferative index in malignant fibrous histiocytoma.
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a multifunctional cytokine that variably affects cell motility, proliferation, and morphogenesis. Little information is currently available on the HGF and its receptor c-Met expression in malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH). We immunohistochemically investigated the HGF and c-Met expression in 43 MFH tissue specimens. Furthermore, the correlation of the HGF and c-Met expression with tumor proliferative activity assessed by MIB-1 indices was analyzed. Our results showed that positive cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for HGF and c-Met was identified in tumor cells in 36 (84%) and 20 (47%) of the 43 MFH cases analyzed, respectively. Coexpression of HGF and c-Met was observed in 20 (47%) of the 43 MFHs, and was correlated with high MIB-1 proliferative indices (p = 0.0446). These findings strongly indicate that the HGF/c-Met signaling system plays an important role in promoting cell proliferation of human MFHs via an autocrine loop.
Yamamoto
Tetsuji
T
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kobe University, Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1 Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan. yamatetu@med.kobe-u.ac.jp
Marui
Takashi
T
Akisue
Toshihiro
T
Nakatani
Tetsuya
T
Fujita
Ikuo
I
Matsumoto
Keiji
K
Hitora
Toshiaki
T
Kawamoto
Teruya
T
Nagira
Keiko
K
Kurosaka
Masahiro
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met