Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (Oct 2020)

HGF/c-Met Axis: The Advanced Development in Digestive System Cancer

  • Zhiwei Shao,
  • Haoqi Pan,
  • Sheng Tu,
  • Jingying Zhang,
  • Sheng Yan,
  • Anwen Shao

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2020.00801
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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Numerous studies have indicated that abnormal activation of the HGF/c-Met signaling pathway can lead to cell proliferation, invasiveness, and metastasis of cancers of the digestive system. Moreover, overexpression of c-Met has been implicated in poor prognosis of patients with these forms of cancer, suggesting the possibility for HGF/c-Met axis as a potential therapeutic target. Despite the large number of clinical and preclinical trials worldwide, no significant positive success in the use of anti-HGF/c-Met treatments on cancers of the digestive system has been achieved. In this review, we summarize advanced development of clinical research on HGF/c-Met antibody and small-molecule c-Met inhibitors of cancers of the digestive system and provide a possible direction for future research.

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