About this Research Topic
The HGF/c-Met pathway has been associated with normal development, organ regeneration and cancer. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is the high-affinity ligand for Mesenchymal Epithelial Transition Factor (c-Met), which belongs to the tyrosine kinase receptor family and is predominantly expressed in epithelial cells. Upon binding to biologically active HGF, c-Met undergoes dimerization and recruits downstream signaling effector molecules, including PI3K, PLC-γ1, and STAT3. The downstream signaling pathways include the Ras pathway, PI3K pathway and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways, among others. Therefore, the HGF/c-Met axis plays an important role in cell growth, survival and migration and, upon dysregulation, can give rise to a variety of cancerous phenotypes.
Activation of the HGF/c-Met axis is associated with aggressive pathologic features, poor prognosis, and treatment resistance in various tumors. Much attention has been paid to HGF- or c-Met-targeted drugs so as to identify potential therapeutic opportunities. Agents targeting HGF can be categorized into either HGF activation inhibitors (preventing the proteolytic conversion of pro-HGF to its active form) or HGF inhibitors (blocking the binding of HGF to c-MET). Agents targeting the c-MET receptor can be categorized into either c-MET antagonists (binding the receptor) or c-MET tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), targeting c-MET intracellularly. Further research on the various HGF/c-Met physiological and pathological activities, as well as the elucidation of the pathways mediating them, will contribute to the development of more promising HGF/c-Met axis-based molecules with therapeutic effects.
Therefore, we invite authors to submit original research and review articles that focus on the biological functions and therapeutic potential of the HGF/c-Met axis for cancer. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
• HGF/c-Met system pathways
• The biochemical characteristics of HGF and c-Met
• The interaction between HGF/c-Met axis and non-coding RNA
• The role of HGF/c-Met in carcinogenesis
• Recent advances in cancer therapies, based on interference with the HGF/c-Met axis
Activation of the HGF/c-Met axis is associated with aggressive pathologic features, poor prognosis, and treatment resistance in various tumors. Much attention has been paid to HGF- or c-Met-targeted drugs so as to identify potential therapeutic opportunities. Agents targeting HGF can be categorized into either HGF activation inhibitors (preventing the proteolytic conversion of pro-HGF to its active form) or HGF inhibitors (blocking the binding of HGF to c-MET). Agents targeting the c-MET receptor can be categorized into either c-MET antagonists (binding the receptor) or c-MET tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), targeting c-MET intracellularly. Further research on the various HGF/c-Met physiological and pathological activities, as well as the elucidation of the pathways mediating them, will contribute to the development of more promising HGF/c-Met axis-based molecules with therapeutic effects.
Therefore, we invite authors to submit original research and review articles that focus on the biological functions and therapeutic potential of the HGF/c-Met axis for cancer. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
• HGF/c-Met system pathways
• The biochemical characteristics of HGF and c-Met
• The interaction between HGF/c-Met axis and non-coding RNA
• The role of HGF/c-Met in carcinogenesis
• Recent advances in cancer therapies, based on interference with the HGF/c-Met axis
Keywords: HGF, c-Met, biological and pharmacological activity, signaling pathway, non-coding RNA, therapeutic and diagnostic application
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
