title: The immunohistochemical expression of c-Met is an independent predictor of survival in patients with glioblastoma multiforme.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Because the outcome of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains dismal, there is an urgent need for a better molecular characterization of this malignancy. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the prognostic impact of the expression of c-mesenchymal-epithelial transition (c-Met) a receptor tyrosine kinase implicated in expression growth, survival, motility/migration, and invasion in GMB patients managed according to the established diagnostic and therapeutic protocols.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between May 2003 and March 2011, a total of 69 patients (33 males and 36 females; mean age: 52.2 ± 12.9 years, age range: 23-81 years) referred to our Department for the surgical removal of GBM were evaluated immunohistochemically for c-Met expression. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) served as the main outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with c-Met- subjects (n = 38), c-Met+ subjects (n = 31) had both a significantly lower OS (15.3 ± 2.3 vs. 22.6 ± 2.5 months, respectively, p < 0.01) and PFS (12.3 ± 2.1 vs. 19.1 ± 2.6 months, respectively, p < 0.05). After allowance for potential confounders, multivariate Cox regression analysis identified c-Met+ as an independent predictor of both OS (hazard ratio = 1.7; 95 % confidence interval = 1.2-1.9, p < 0.01) and PFS (hazard ratio = 1.6; 95 % confidence interval = 1.1-2.3, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that c-Met immunohistochemical expression is an independent predictor of outcomes in patients with GBM treated by standard of care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Uludag University Medical School, Bursa, Turkey, olmezof@gmail.com.
authors.forename: O F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Olmez
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cubukcu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Evrensel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurt
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Avci
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tolunay
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bekar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deligonul
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hartavi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alkis
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Manavoglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000378:metabolism*; D059039:Standard of Care; D016019:Survival Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met