Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 18, 2026
Development of Compendium for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: April 12, 2024
Expression and clinical significance of c-Met in advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Yingying Xu1, Zhi Peng2, Zhongwu Li3
1Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, FuCheng Road 52, HaiDian District, Beijing, China. xyystella@163.com.
Background:
c-Met, one of current potential hot targets, has been suggested as a potential tumor marker in the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Our aim was to investigate the expression of c-Met in advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in four phase II trials who had tumor tissues from archival in our center and analyze the correlations between c-Met expression and clinical features.
Methods:
Ninety patients with advanced ESCC who were admitted to the phase II clinical trials in the Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute from March 2007 to March 2014 were finally eligible for present study and the corresponding tissues and clinical data were collected. The expression of c-Met in the tissue samples was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). c-Met overexpression was defined as ≥ the median value of H-score. Kaplan-Meier and Cox multivariate regression were conducted to evaluate the relationship between c-Met expression and ESCC survival.
Results:
The overexpression of c-Met is 43.3% in advanced ESCC. There was no statistical difference between c-Met expression and clinical features except sex and tumor location. Survival analysis documented that the overexpression of c-Met predicted a worse prognosis (OS: 253 d vs 422 d, P = 0.011). In the group treated with chemotherapy combined with anti-EGFR drugs, patients with lowexpression of c-Met had a better OS than those with overexpression of c-Met (OS: 577 d vs 232 d, P = 0.007).
Conclusions:
c-Met may be an independent prognostic factor in advanced ESCC. The overexpression of c-Met may predict a worse efficacy of anti-EGFR therapy.
Insights
Overexpression of c-Met indicates a worse prognosis in advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Low c-Met expression correlates with better outcomes in patients receiving anti-EGFR therapy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- c-Met is a potential tumor marker for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).
- Investigating c-Met expression in advanced ESCC is crucial for understanding prognosis.
- Previous research suggests c-Met's role in ESCC development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate c-Met expression in advanced ESCC.
- To analyze correlations between c-Met expression and clinical features.
- To evaluate the prognostic value of c-Met in ESCC patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 90 advanced ESCC patients from phase II clinical trials.
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC) used to detect c-Met expression.
- Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses for survival and prognostic evaluation.
Main Results:
- c-Met overexpression observed in 43.3% of advanced ESCC cases.
- c-Met expression showed no significant correlation with most clinical features, except sex and tumor location.
- Overexpression of c-Met was associated with a worse overall survival (OS) (253 days vs 422 days).
- In patients treated with chemotherapy plus anti-EGFR drugs, low c-Met expression predicted better OS (577 days vs 232 days).
Conclusions:
- c-Met may serve as an independent prognostic factor in advanced ESCC.
- Elevated c-Met expression suggests a poorer response to anti-EGFR therapy in ESCC.
Related Concept Videos
02:38Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
02:30Metastasis
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...