title: Prognostic value of MET protein overexpression and gene amplification in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: This study assessed the incidence and prognostic value of MET protein overexpression and gene amplification in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Specimens from 376 consecutive patients with locoregionally advanced NPC were subjected to immunohistochemistry to analyze MET protein expression and fluorescence in situ hybridization to assess MET amplification status. In total, 139/376 (37.0%) patients had MET protein overexpression; of whom, 7/139 (5.0%) had MET amplification. MET overexpression was significantly associated with locoregional failure (P = 0.009), distant metastasis (P = 0.006) and death (P < 0.001); MET amplification was significantly associated with death (P = 0.021). A positive correlation was observed between MET copy number status and MET protein expression (r = 0.629, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated MET overexpression was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS; HR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.38-2.87; P < 0.001) and disease-free survival (DFS; HR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.33-2.57; P < 0.001), and MET amplification was independently associated with poorer OS (HR, 4.24; 95% CI, 1.78-10.08; P < 0.001) and DFS (HR, 5.44; 95% CI, 2.44-12.09; P < 0.001). In conclusion, MET protein overexpression and gene amplification are independent prognostic factors for OS and DFS in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and may provide therapeutic biomarkers to identify patients in whom MET inhibitors may be beneficial.
authors.affiliation: Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yingqin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Wenfei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qingmei
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yafei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xianyue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xinran
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiaojing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jingping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D002277:Carcinoma; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C491743:MET protein, human; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met
keywords: MET amplification; MET overexpression; locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma; prognosis