Coexpression of hepatocyte growth factor and its receptor c-Met correlates with high MIB-1 proliferative index in malignant fibrous histiocytoma

• Published in: Pathology, research and practice Vol. 200; no. 5; pp. 397 - 402
• Main Authors: Yamamoto, Tetsuji, Marui, Takashi, Akisue, Toshihiro, Nakatani, Tetsuya, Fujita, Ikuo, Matsumoto, Keiji, Hitora, Toshiaki, Kawamoto, Teruya, Nagira, Keiko, Kurosaka, Masahiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Elsevier GmbH 01.01.2004; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; c-Met; Female; Hepatocyte growth factor; Hepatocyte Growth Factor - biosynthesis; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous - metabolism; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous - pathology; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Ki-67 Antigen - metabolism; Male; Malignant fibrous histiocytoma; MIB-1 index; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met - biosynthesis; Signal Transduction - physiology; Immunohistochemistry; MIB-1 index; c-Met; Malignant fibrous histiocytoma; Hepatocyte growth factor
• ISSN: 0344-0338; 1618-0631
• DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2004.03.007

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a multifunctional cytokine that variably affects cell motility, proliferation, and morphogenesis. Little information is currently available on the HGF and its receptor c-Met expression in malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH). We immunohistochemically investigated the HGF and c-Met expression in 43 MFH tissue specimens. Furthermore, the correlation of the HGF and c-Met expression with tumor proliferative activity assessed by MIB-1 indices was analyzed. Our results showed that positive cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for HGF and c-Met was identified in tumor cells in 36 (84%) and 20 (47%) of the 43 MFH cases analyzed, respectively. Coexpression of HGF and c-Met was observed in 20 (47%) of the 43 MFHs, and was correlated with high MIB-1 proliferative indices ( p=0.0446). These findings strongly indicate that the HGF/c-Met signaling system plays an important role in promoting cell proliferation of human MFHs via an autocrine loop.