Abstract:

Objective     To investigate expression of c-Met, the protein tyrosine kinase receptor for hepatocyte growth factor/scatter (HGF) in colorectal cancer, its relationship with micro-vessel density (MVD), and its role in progression and metastasis of colorectal cancer. Methods     C-Met expression was detected at the protein level by immunohistochemistry and at the mRNA level by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in colorectal adenocarcinomas(80 cases), colorectal adenoma(60 cases) and normal mucosa (40 cases). MVD expression marked with CD 105 was determined and calculated by immunohistochemistry . Correlation of C-Met and MVD expressions and their association with clinicopathological features and outcome were analyzed. Results      C-Met-positive rate was 71.3% (57/80) in colorectal cancer, 31.7%(19/60) in colorectal adenoma and 17.5%(7/40) in normal mucosa. C-Met expression in colon cancer was significantly higher than that in colorectal adenoma and normal mucosa (P<0.01). C-Metand MVD expressions were associated with lymph node metastasis, tumor differentiation and Dukes stage (P<0.05). c-Met expression was correlated with MVD（r=0.0346， P<0.05）. MVD in the c-Met (+) group was higher than that in the c-Met (-) group（P<0.01）. Also, a significant increase in c-Met and MVD was detected in colorectal cancer with liver metastasis compared with primary colorectal cancer (P<0.01). Conclusions     c-Met may play an important role in progression and metastasis of colorectal cancer. Moreover, combined evaluation of cMet and MVD expressions might be a useful indicator for liver metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer.

Key words: Colon neoplasms； C-Met protein； CD105； Microvessel density； Metastasis