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Updated: Oct 9, 2026

A Modified In vitro Invasion Assay to Determine the Potential Role of Hormones, Cytokines and/or Growth Factors in Mediating Cancer Cell Invasion
06:36

A Modified In vitro Invasion Assay to Determine the Potential Role of Hormones, Cytokines and/or Growth Factors in Mediating Cancer Cell Invasion

Published on: April 24, 2015

The HGF receptor family: unconventional signal transducers for invasive cell growth

P M Comoglio1, C Boccaccio

  • 1Institute for Cancer Research, University of Torino Medical School, Italy.

Genes to Cells : Devoted to Molecular & Cellular Mechanisms
|April 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

The MET, SEA, and RON receptor tyrosine kinases regulate cell motility and invasiveness. Their unique signaling mechanism involves a multifunctional docking site activating multiple pathways, leading to invasive cell growth when deregulated.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • The HGF receptor family comprises MET, SEA, and RON tyrosine kinases.
  • These receptors are involved in cell dissociation, motility, and invasiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the unique signal transduction mechanism of MET, SEA, and RON receptors.
  • To understand how deregulated activation of these receptors contributes to invasive cell growth.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of receptor tyrosine kinase signaling pathways.
  • Investigation of protein-protein interactions mediated by SH2 domains.
  • Study of downstream signaling effectors like Ras and PI 3-kinase.

Main Results:

  • MET, SEA, and RON receptors possess a multifunctional docking site in their cytoplasmic tails.
  • This site binds and activates multiple SH2-containing transducers, including Ras and PI 3-kinase, upon autophosphorylation.
  • Deregulated activation of this 'supersite' results in pleiotropic signaling driving invasive cell growth.

Conclusions:

  • The HGF receptor family utilizes a unique signaling mechanism distinct from conventional growth factor receptors.
  • Aberrant activation of the MET, SEA, and RON signaling 'supersite' is a key driver of invasive cancer phenotypes.

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