Growth-inhibition and change in morphology and motility of sclc cell-lines by hepatocyte growth-factor scatter factor

K Rygaard1, B Klausen, T Nakamura

  • 1KYUSHU UNIV,FAC SCI,DEPT BIOL,FUKUOKA 812,JAPAN.

Insights

The c-Met proto-oncogene is frequently expressed in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines. Its receptor, HGF/SF, influences SCLC cell behavior, including growth, morphology, and migration.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • The c-met proto-oncogene is often expressed in small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
  • c-Met is the receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), also known as scatter factor (SF).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the functional role of HGF/SF signaling in SCLC.
  • To determine if c-Met receptor expression correlates with SCLC cell behavior.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed c-Met expression in 8 SCLC cell lines.
  • Applied HGF/SF to cell lines and monitored effects on growth curves, in vitro migration (Boyden chambers), and cell morphology.

Main Results:

  • Six of eight SCLC cell lines expressed c-Met.
  • Three cell lines exhibited growth inhibition, morphological alterations, and/or increased migration in response to HGF/SF.

Conclusions:

  • Functional c-Met receptors are common in SCLC.
  • HGF/SF signaling may play a significant role in the behavior and progression of SCLC.