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Updated: Feb 9, 2026

Studying Triple Negative Breast Cancer Using Orthotopic Breast Cancer Model
Published on: March 20, 2020
Prognostic Significance of Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transition in Triple-Negative Breast Cancers
Hong-Fei Gao1, Ci-Qiu Yang1, Min-Yi Cheng1
1Department of Breast Cancer, Cancer Center, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
Introduction:
The prognostic value of the mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) in triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) remains controversial. A meta-analysis of the impact of MET in TNBCs was performed by searching published data.
Methods:
PubMed and Embase databases were searched for eligible literature. The principal outcome measures were hazard ratios (HRs) for recurrence-free survival or overall survival according to MET expression. Combined HRs were calculated using fixed- or random-effects models according to heterogeneity.
Results:
Six studies involving 785 patients met our selection criteria. The meta-analysis results showed that MET overexpression was associated with a 1.29-fold increased risk of recurrence (combined HR 1.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.60; P = .020) in the TNBCs. Three studies provided the related overall survival data (488 cases). The results showed that MET overexpression was associated with a 1.38-fold increased risk of mortality (HR, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.76; P = .009).
Conclusion:
MET is an adverse prognostic marker for TNBCs. The results strengthen the rationale for targeted therapy of TNBCs using MET inhibitors in future clinical trials.
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