title: Paradoxical action of growth factors: antiproliferative and proapoptotic signaling by HGF/c-MET.
abstract: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (c-MET) signaling is usually associated with the promotion of cellular growth and often with progression of tumors. Nevertheless, under certain conditions HGF can also act as an antiproliferative and proapoptotic factor and can sensitize various cancer cells, treated with anticancer drugs, to apoptosis. Not only HGF but also its various truncated forms as well as intracellular fragments of its membrane receptor, c-MET, may act as antiproliferative and proapoptotic factors toward various cells. This review focuses on different mechanisms responsible for such paradoxical action of the known typical growth factor. It also points toward the possibilities of usage of this information in anticancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland. b.grzelakowska@nencki.gov.pl
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grzelakowska-Sztabert
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dudkowska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002453:Cell Cycle; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D018450:Disease Progression; D004285:Dogs; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011485:Protein Binding; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met