C. Kuhnen et al., EXPRESSION OF C-MET RECEPTOR AND HEPATOCYTE GROWTH-FACTOR SCATTER FACTOR IN SYNOVIAL SARCOMA AND EPITHELIOID SARCOMA, Virchows Archiv, 432(4), 1998, pp. 337-342
Overexpression of c-Met receptor/hepatocyte growth factor (scatter fac
tor) system (c-Met/HGF/SF) as a physiologically paracrine cellular sig
naling system is thought to be involved in the progression of malignan
t rumours. In 26 synovial sarcomas and epithelioid sarcomas, c-Met and
HGF/SF expression was analysed immunohistochemically. There were 10 b
iphasic synovial sarcomas, 7 of which showed moderate to strong c-Met
expression in epithelial areas compared with the fibrous component, wi
th corresponding expression of HGF/SF. Six of 9 monophasic fibrous syn
ovial sarcomas showed only very faint c-Met and corresponding HGF/SF e
xpression. In 7 epithelioid sarcomas strong expression of c-Met and HG
F/SF was observed within epithelioid tumour cells. Non-radioactive in
situ hybridization demonstrated the synthesis of c-Met receptor in tum
or cells by detecting c-met-mRNA. This analysis shows that in synovial
sarcomas and epithelioid sarcomas, tumour entities with epithelial an
d mesenchymal structures, c-Met and HGF/SF overexpression can be detec
ted, indicating a role of this signaling system in these subtypes of s
arcoma, and especially in the more epithelioid tumour phenotype. An au
tocrine interaction between overexpressed c-Met receptor and HGF/SF ma
y be hypothesized.