The immunohistochemical expression of c-Met is an independent predictor of survival in patients with glioblastoma multiforme

Background and aims Because the outcome of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains dismal, there is an urgent need for a better molecular characterization of this malignancy. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the prognostic impact of the expression of c-mesenchymal-epithelial transition (c-Met) a receptor tyrosine kinase implicated in expression growth, survival, motility/migration, and invasion in GMB patients managed according to the established diagnostic and therapeutic protocols. Methods Between May 2003 and March 2011, a total of 69 patients (33 males and 36 females; mean age: 52.2 ± 12.9 years, age range: 23–81 years) referred to our Department for the surgical removal of GBM were evaluated immunohistochemically for c-Met expression. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) served as the main outcome measures. Results Compared with c-Met− subjects ( n = 38), c-Met+ subjects ( n = 31) had both a significantly lower OS (15.3 ± 2.3 vs. 22.6 ± 2.5 months, respectively, p