MET is a proto-oncogene that encodes a transmembrane growth factor receptor which is a heterodimer of two disulphide linked chains of 50 kd (alpha) and 145 kd (beta). MET is widely expressed in the kidney, brain, lung, skin, and embryonic tissue. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) binds to MET and activates its tyrosine kinase activity. MET is overexpressed and activated in a variety of human cancers including pancreatic, colon, gastric, cervical and ovarian cancers and has been shown to be involved in tumor cell migration and invasion.
