Abstract
This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effects of high c-Met levels in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) on survival and clinicopathological features. Publications concerned with the clinical significance of c-Met protein expression in HNSCC were identified from the Scopus and Web of Science database searches. To elucidate the relationship between c-Met expression and clinical outcomes, a meta-analysis of the selected articles was conducted. Seventeen publications involving a total of 1724 patients met the inclusion criteria. c-Met overexpression was significantly correlated with poor overall survival (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.55–3.10). c-Met immunohistochemical staining positivity was also associated with worse relapse-free survival (HR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.24–2.17) and presence of regional lymph node metastases (odds ratio (OR) = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.26–2.45). High levels of c-Met expression in HNSCC predict unfavorable prognosis associated with common clinicopathological features.
Highlights
This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effects of high c-Met levels in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) on survival and clinicopathological features
Even though immunohistochemistry was used in all the included studies, a primary obstacle in interpreting and combining the outcome data was the diversity of cutoff definitions for the high and low expression patient groups used by the authors
The chosen criteria have taken into account all the possible immunohistochemical factors and at the same time have been strict enough to warrant the usage of the term high/low c-Met expression
Summary
This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effects of high c-Met levels in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) on survival and clinicopathological features. Its physiological function is connected to key processes in tissue embryogenesis and wound healing such as the ability of migratory cells to detach from the extracellular matrix, to elude anoikis and to settle in newly forming or damaged tissue[1] By hijacking these pathways through c-Met activation, tumors increase their potential for invasive growth and metastasis[2]. While some studies have linked c-Met dysregulation to worse prognosis in HNSCC patients[9,10,11], others have not found any significant correlation[12,13] The aim of this meta-analysis is, to aid investigators and physicians in evaluating the role of c-Met as a robust prognostic factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
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