Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2007 Aug;50(8):684-689.

Role of Hepatocyte Growth Factor and c-met Gene Expression in Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• Kim JH
• Oh SJ
• Rho YS
• Ahn HY
• Shin HS
• Cho SJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-Met signal pathway may play various roles in carcinogenesis of several organs. However, studies about this pathway in head and neck cancers, especially oral cavity and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), are very rare. Our objectives are to evaluate the relationship between the mRNA and protein expression of HGF and c-met genes in oral cavity and oropharyngeal carcinomas.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
In this study, we examined the mRNA expression of HGF and c-Met by means of the immunohistochemistry (IHC) method and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 40 cases of surgically resected oral cavity and oropharyngeal SCC and 10 cases of low grade dysplasia.
RESULTS
Using RT-PCR, HGF mRNA amplification was detected in 67.5% and 10% of carcinoma and dysplasia. c-Met mRNA over-expression was detected in 57.5% and 20% of carcinoma and dysplasia. Using IHC, HGF and c-Met protein over-expression was detected in 55% and 62.5% in carcinoma, but not detected in dysplasia.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that HGF/c-Met signal pathway may be associated with the development of oral cavity and oropharyngeal SCC.

Keyword

Oral cavity; Oropharynx; Squamous cell carcinoma; Hepatocyte growth factor; Proto-oncogene c-Met proteins

MeSH Terms

Carcinogenesis
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell*
Gene Expression*
Head
Hepatocyte Growth Factor*
Hepatocytes*
Immunohistochemistry
Mouth*
Neck
Oropharynx
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Reverse Transcription
RNA, Messenger
Signal Transduction
Hepatocyte Growth Factor
RNA, Messenger