title: c-MET and HGF mRNA expression in hepatocellular carcinoma: correlation with clinicopathological features and survival.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Data on the clinicopathological features and prognostic impact of c-N-Methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitroso-guanidine HOS Transforming gene (c-MET) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are inconsistent. We assessed c-MET and HGF expression in 49 patients with early-stage HCC and correlated the results with disease characteristics and survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of c-MET and HGF mRNA in tumor (T) and non-tumor (NT) tissues was assessed. Results were correlated with patient characteristics and overall and recurrence-free survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median relative tumor c-MET and HGF expressions were 3.23 (T/NT ratio 6.46) and 9.07 (T/NT ratio 0.77), respectively. c-MET and HGF were overexpressed in early-stage disease with favorable characteristics although there was no association with survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contrary to other studies, in our series increased tumor c-MET and HGF expressions were associated with favorable disease attributes but not with survival. The prognostic and therapeutic applications of this knowledge to HCC are under active investigation.
authors.affiliation: Weill Medical College at Cornell University, Department of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. abou-alg@mskcc.org
authors.forename: Celina Su-Ping
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ang
authors.forename: Mark Yipin
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: David Fidel
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Huitzil-Melendez
authors.forename: Joanne Fu-Lou
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Marinela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capanu
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jarnagin
authors.forename: Yuman
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: Ronald Paul
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Dematteo
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Angelica
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Chin-Tung
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Eileen Mary
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: Martin Ross
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Weiser
authors.forename: Ghassan Khaled
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Abou-Alfa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: C066855:HGF protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met
keywords: c-MET; hepatocellular carcinoma; hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)