November 22, 2013
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MET amplification, protein expression predicted shorter survival in gastric cancer

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MET gene amplification and strong protein expression were not uncommon in patients with recurrent or metastatic gastric cancer, and both were associated with substantially shorter survival, according to results of a retrospective study.

Unregulated activation of the HGF/MET pathway can reduce apoptosis and promote cancer cell proliferation, angiogenesis and metastasis. Among patients with gastric cancer, MET gene amplification is the most common cause of HGF/MET activation, according to background information provided by researchers.

The study included 232 patients with recurrent or metastatic gastric cancer who underwent chemotherapy between 2005 and 2012.

Researchers used fluorescence in situ hybridization to evaluate MET gene amplification in 230 samples, and they used immunohistochemistry to evaluate protein expression in 229 samples.

Results showed 8.3% of samples expressed MET gene amplification and 9.6% exhibited strong protein expression.

Presence of MET gene amplification and strong protein expression were significantly correlated (r=0.378; P˂.001).

MET gene amplification also was associated with poor performance status (P˂.001) and poorly differentiated tumors (P=.0015).

Survival analysis showed patients with MET gene amplification demonstrated shorter median OS (5.7 months vs. 15.5 months) and PFS (3.6 months vs. 6.9 months) than patients without amplification (P˂.001 for both).

Patients with MET immunohistochemistry 3+ expression demonstrated significantly shorter median OS (6.3 months vs. 15.1 months) and PFS (3.6 months vs. 7 months) than patients with immunohistochemistry 0 to 2+ (P<.001 for both).

“The results of the current study demonstrated for the first time that MET amplification is not rare in patients with recurrent/metastatic gastric cancer,” the researchers concluded. “This information indicates that the current clinical development of anti-MET compounds for the treatment of recurrent/metastatic gastric cancer is a promising modality.”

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.