[MET: new target, new combinations]

Bull Cancer. 2011 Jun;98(6):689-96. doi: 10.1684/bdc.2011.1376.
[Article in French]

Abstract

The MET tyrosine-kinase receptor is implicated in embryonic development and tissue repair. It appears to be a key of tumour development since it drives cell migration and invasion and can induce the conversion from an epithelial to a mesenchymal phenotype. Aberrant signaling of the MET pathways is associated with an aggressive prognosis and a poor outcome. Preliminary clinical results of several MET inhibitors have been encouraging particularly in tumours in which MET was amplified or mutated. MET inhibition could be especially interesting in association with others drugs since activation of MET is a secondary event induced by hypoxia, inflammatory cytokines or HER inhibitors that could exacerbate the malignant properties of transformed cells. Molecular targeted therapies against MET could therefore be effective as a combination approach.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy / methods
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / physiology
  • Receptor Cross-Talk / physiology
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / physiology
  • Signal Transduction / physiology

Substances

  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met