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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

lipid regulation, c-met, MDCK cells, hepatocyte-growth factor, HGF

College

Life Sciences

Department

Physiology and Developmental Biology

Abstract

A key characteristic of cancer is metastasis of the primary tumor to other locations in the body. Hepatocyte-growth factor (HGF) is a highly characterized and studied factor that induces epithelial cell scattering, through the c-met pathway, and mediates a similar response to metastasis (Cecchi, et al., 2012, Lai, et al, 2012). Trademarks of the c-Met pathway, as stimulated by HGF, include proliferation, angiogenesis, inflammation, cell survival and migration (Bozkaya, et al., 2012). When activated in cancer patients, the c-Met pathway leads to a poor prognosis (Wang, et al., 2003). The scientific community is trying to understand characteristics and cellular changes in metastatic cells in order to identify exactly how cancerous tumor cells are able to morphologically change in order to survive. By understanding the c-met pathway, we will be able to better understand the exact cellular changes in the cells as they undergo scattering, as well as assisting pharmacological companies in understanding which pathways can be blocked. In our experiments, we will better learn and understand the lipid regulation changes of specific lipids that induce cancer-like characteristics (those present in the c-Met pathway).

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