title: c-MET overexpression as a prognostic biomarker in colorectal adenocarcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a need for informative molecular markers that provide prognostic information over and above that given by conventional pathologic parameters. This study examined the expression and potential prognostic value of c-MET in colorectal adenocarcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-hundred and thirty cases were evaluable after tissue microarray construction and evaluated for c-MET expression by immunohistochemistry. The results were correlated with standard clinicopathologic prognostic factors. Cases were followed up for 5 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  c-MET was highly expressed in 138 of 230 cases (60%). In normal tissues a negative or weak reaction was observed. Significantly higher c-MET expression was found in the metastatic group (p=0.04). No significant association was found in relation to age, sex, tumor site, tumor size, histological type, or tumor grade (p > 0.05). The 5-year disease free survival for patients with low levels of expression was significantly higher than that for patients with high levels (64% versus 45%, p=0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  c-MET seems to be a valuable biomarker in colorectal adenocarcinoma; overexpression is a useful prognostic indicator for metastasis and patient outcome.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  c-MET, prognosis, colorectal adenocarcinoma, tissue microarray.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Amany A. Abou-Bakr, Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Egypt. Email: amany_aboubakr@hotmail.com Tel. +965-66267300.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Abou-Bakr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elbasmi
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor