Correlation between hypoxia and HGF/c-MET expression in the management of pancreatic cancer

Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer. 2023 May;1878(3):188869. doi: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188869. Epub 2023 Feb 24.

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is very deadly and difficult to treat. The presence of hypoxia has been shown to increase the probability of cancer developing and spreading. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC/PC) has traditionally viewed a highly lethal form of cancer due to its high occurrence of early metastases. Desmoplasia/stroma is often thick and collagenous, with pancreatic stellate cells as the primary source (PSCs). Cancer cells and other stromal cells interact with PSCs, promoting disease development. The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-MET pathway have been proposed as a growth factor mechanism mediating this interaction. Human growth factor (HGF) is secreted by pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), and its receptor, c-MET, is generated by pancreatic cancer cells and endothelial cells. Hypoxia is frequent in malignant tumors, particularly pancreatic (PC). Hypoxia results from limitless tumor development and promotes survival, progression, and invasion. Hypoxic is becoming a critical driver and therapeutic target of pancreatic cancer as its hypoxia microenvironment is defined. Recent breakthroughs in cancer biology show that hypoxia promotes tumor proliferation, aggressiveness, and therapeutic resistance. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) stabilize hypoxia signaling. Hypoxia cMet is a key component of pancreatic tumor microenvironments, which also have a fibrotic response, that hypoxia, promotes and modulates. c-Met is a tyrosine-protein kinase. As describe it simply, the MET gene in humans' codes for a protein called hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR). Most cancerous tumors and pancreatic cancer in particular, suffer from a lack of oxygen (PC). Due to unrestrained tumor development, hypoxia develops, actively contributing to tumor survival, progression, and invasion. As the processes by which hypoxia signaling promotes invasion and metastasis become clear, c-MET has emerged as an important determinant of pancreatic cancer malignancy and a potential pharmacological target. This manuscript provides the most current findings on the role of hypoxia and HGF/c-MET expression in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Keywords: HGF/c-MET system; Hypoxia; PSCs, cancer; Pancreatic cancer; health management.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology
  • Hepatocyte Growth Factor* / genetics
  • Hepatocyte Growth Factor* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia / genetics
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

  • Hepatocyte Growth Factor
  • HGF protein, human