Clinical significance of hepatocyte growth factor and c-Met expression in extrahepatic biliary tract cancers

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-Met expression is known to be correlated w ith poor prognosis in several cancers. We investigated HGF/c-Met immunoreac tivity and its correlation with clinical features in 51 patients with curat ively resected extrahepatic biliary tract carcinoma. c-Met showed significa nt correlations with tumor location, T category, stage, perineural invasion and local recurrence. Overall survival in patients with HGF and c-Met immu nopositivity was significantly worse than in those who were negative. Our f indings suggest that HGF/c-Met play some roles in tumor development and tha t HGF/c-Met immunoreactivity could be a predictor of the mode of recurrence and poor prognosis.