[The expression of cMET/hepatocyte growth factor receptor in colorectal cancer]

In this study, we estimated the expression of c-MET/Hepatocyte Growth Factor receptor in colorectal cancers by immunohistochemistry. In 118 patients, c-MET wee expressed in 65 patients (55%). About the clinicopathological findings of metastasis, the proportion of c-MET-positive in the patients with liver metastasis, 78% (18/23), was significantly higher than that without liver metastasis, 49% (47/95), but there was no significant difference about lymph node metastasis and peritoneal dissemination. About the pathological findings of primary lesion, the proportion of c-MET-positive in the patients with infiltration into lymphatic vessels, 63% (48/76), was significantly higher than that without infiltration, 40% (17/42), but there was no significant difference about infiltration into veins. The proportion of c-MET-positive increased as the tumor stage proceeded from t1 to t4 and as the histopathological stage proceeded from I to IV. These results suggest that c-MET may play an important role in the growth and scattering of colorectal cancer cells.