Soluble c-Met receptors inhibit phosphorylation of c-Met and growth of hepatocyte growth factor: c-Met–dependent tumors in animal models

Abstract

c-Met is a receptor tyrosine kinase frequently overexpressed or amplified in many types of human cancers. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF, also known as scatter factor) is the only known ligand for c-Met. In this study, soluble human and murine c-Met receptor-Fc fusion proteins were generated and were shown to bind to human and murine HGF as measured by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and surface plasmon resonance (Biacore) assays. Also, both human and murine c-Met-Fc showed activity in functional cell assays, inhibiting HGF-induced c-Met phosphorylation in PC3 and 4T1 cells, respectively, and inhibiting HGF-driven cellular invasion in a dose-dependent manner. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed that both reagents were suitable for in vivo testing. Systemic administration of human c-Met-Fc significantly inhibited tumor growth in the human HGF-dependent U-87 MG xenograft model at daily doses of 30 or 100 μg (P < 0.0001). Similarly, murine c-Met-Fc, at 100 μg daily, significantly inhibited tumor growth in the murine HGF-dependent CT-26 syngeneic tumor model (P < 0.002). Human and murine c-Met-Fc seemed to be well-tolerated in animals. In conclusion, both mouse and human versions of c-Met-Fc effectively block HGF-induced activation of c-Met and inhibit growth of tumor xenografts, providing further evidence that c-Met is an important target for oncology therapeutics.