20th Anniversary of Pharmaceuticals—Met Receptor

A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmacology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 September 2024) | Viewed by 2298

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Oncology, Candiolo Cancer Institute, University of Turin, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy
Interests: growth factors; Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs); signal transduction pathways; cancer; embryonic development; tissue repair
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Oncology, Candiolo Cancer Institute, University of Turin, FPO-IRCCS Strada Provinciale 142, 10060 Candiolo, Italy
Interests: cancer; metabolism; tyrosine kinase receptors; growth factors

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The MET receptor, also known as the MET proto-oncogene, was first discovered in the late 1980s as a novel tyrosine kinase receptor. Its significance in cancer biology was recognized when the receptor was found to be activated by the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a pleiotropic cytokine promoting cell growth, survival and migration. Genetic lesions of the MET proto-oncogene have been identified in various malignancies, contributing to tumor progression and metastasis. Such genetic alterations result in dysregulated signaling pathways that promote cell proliferation, survival, angiogenesis and invasion, making the MET oncogene an attractive target for therapeutic interventions in cancer. Recent research has uncovered novel aspects of MET receptor biology, expanding our understanding of its role in cancer and beyond. One exciting discovery is the involvement of MET in immune modulation, with studies suggesting its influence on tumor immune evasion and response to immunotherapies. Furthermore, increasing evidence indicates intercommunication between the MET pathway and other signaling pathways, underscoring the intricate nature of cellular processes influenced by MET and providing potential avenues for combination therapies to enhance treatment efficacy and overcome resistance mechanisms in cancers with MET alterations.

Novel MET-targeted therapies have emerged as promising approaches in cancer treatment. One such approach involves the development of highly selective small-molecule inhibitors that specifically target the MET kinase domain, blocking its activity and downstream signaling pathways. Another innovative strategy utilizes engineered MET-targeted antibodies or bispecific antibodies that simultaneously target MET and another cancer-associated protein, enhancing the efficacy of MET inhibition and potentially overcoming resistance mechanisms. These novel therapies hold great potential for personalized cancer treatment and are being actively investigated in preclinical and clinical settings. This Special Issue invites submissions covering various aspects of recent research related to the newly discovered physiological and pathological functions and regulatory mechanisms of the MET proto-oncogene, as indicated previously.

Prof. Dr. Tiziana Crepaldi
Dr. Simona Gallo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pharmaceuticals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • c-MET proto-oncogene
  • precision medicine
  • cancer biology
  • genetic modifications
  • therapy resistance
  • targeted therapy
  • tumor microenvironment
  • biomarkers

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Other

15 pages, 1242 KiB  
Opinion
The MET Oncogene: Thirty Years of Insights into Molecular Mechanisms Driving Malignancy
by Tiziana Crepaldi, Simona Gallo and Paolo Maria Comoglio
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(4), 448; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17040448 - 30 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1900
Abstract
The discovery and subsequent research on the MET oncogene’s role in cancer onset and progression have illuminated crucial insights into the molecular mechanisms driving malignancy. The identification of MET as the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor has paved the path for characterizing the [...] Read more.
The discovery and subsequent research on the MET oncogene’s role in cancer onset and progression have illuminated crucial insights into the molecular mechanisms driving malignancy. The identification of MET as the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor has paved the path for characterizing the MET tyrosine kinase activation mechanism and its downstream signaling cascade. Over the past thirty years, research has established the importance of HGF/MET signaling in normal cellular processes, such as cell dissociation, migration, proliferation, and cell survival. Notably, genetic alterations that lead to the continuous activation of MET, known as constitutive activation, have been identified as oncogenic drivers in various cancers. The genetic lesions affecting MET, such as exon skipping, gene amplification, and gene rearrangements, provide valuable targets for therapeutic intervention. Moreover, the implications of MET as a resistance mechanism to targeted therapies emphasize the need for combination treatments that include MET inhibitors. The intriguing “flare effect” phenomenon, wherein MET inhibition can lead to post-treatment increases in cancer cell proliferation, underscores the dynamic nature of cancer therapeutics. In human tumors, increased protein expression often occurs without gene amplification. Various mechanisms may cause an overexpression: transcriptional upregulation induced by other oncogenes; environmental factors (such as hypoxia or radiation); or substances produced by the reactive stroma, such as inflammatory cytokines, pro-angiogenic factors, and even HGF itself. In conclusion, the journey to understanding MET’s involvement in cancer onset and progression over the past three decades has not only deepened our knowledge, but has also paved the way for innovative therapeutic strategies. Selective pharmacological inactivation of MET stands as a promising avenue for achieving cancer remission, particularly in cases where MET alterations are the primary drivers of malignancy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 20th Anniversary of Pharmaceuticals—Met Receptor)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop