As a receptor tyrosine kinase, mesenchymal to epithelial transition factor (MET) is the membrane receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), which is related with a series of biological functions, such as cell proliferation, progression, apoptosis, metastasis and morphological changes. As research continues, MET is amplified or overexpressed in a wide range of human cancers and closely related with worse prognosis. Therefore, various MET inhibitors are currently being developed as potential treatments for a variety of cancers. Based on our current study we summarize the existing knowledge on structure, biological function and its inhibitors of MET and provide a data phase for future researchers.
间质表皮转化因子 (Mesenchymal to epithelial transition factor，MET) 蛋白作为一种受体酪氨酸激酶，通常存在于上皮细胞中，被HGF等配体激活后，能够参与调控细胞的增殖、凋亡、迁移侵袭和细胞形态等多种生物学功能。随着研究的深入，MET已被证实在多种恶性肿瘤中异常表达或基因扩增，其与肿瘤患者的预后有着密切的关系。因此，针对MET的抑制剂研究发展比较迅速，且其良好的抗肿瘤效果也得到了证实。本文结合目前本实验室的研究，对MET的结构、功能及其抑制剂研究的现状等进行了综述，为今后的研究者提供一个阶段性的数据资料。.
Keywords: MET; inhibitors; signal pathway; targeted therapy; the prognosis of cancers.