Prognostic value of c-MET in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a study based on the mRNA expression in TCGA database and a meta-analysis

ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor’s (c-MET) prognostic value in oesophageal carcinoma (ESCA) through a meta-analysis and bioinformatics.MethodsWe analysed c-MET expression in ESCA tissues using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and conducted a met...

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Main Authors: Qiqi Zhang, Xiujuan Li, Jian Li, Zhiqiang Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1548160/full
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author Qiqi Zhang
Xiujuan Li
Jian Li
Zhiqiang Zhang
author_facet Qiqi Zhang
Xiujuan Li
Jian Li
Zhiqiang Zhang
author_sort Qiqi Zhang
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor’s (c-MET) prognostic value in oesophageal carcinoma (ESCA) through a meta-analysis and bioinformatics.MethodsWe analysed c-MET expression in ESCA tissues using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate its association with clinicopathological factors and survival outcomes. The meta-analysis included studies reporting hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs) for survival and metastatic outcomes.ResultsThe Cancer Genome Atlas analysis revealed elevated c-MET expression in ESCA, which was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis, tumour grade and stage, though not with overall survival (OS). In the meta-analysis, 278 publications were identified, and 89 duplicates were removed. After screening, 176 articles were excluded, leaving 13 for full-text review. Of these, 5 studies lacked sufficient survival data, resulting in 8 eligible studies with a total of 1,488 patients. Meta-analysis findings indicated that high c-MET expression was associated with worse OS (HR = 1.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17–2.01; p = 0.002), distant metastasis (OR = 1.97, 95% CI: 1.14–3.40; p = 0.02) and advanced stage (OR = 2.23, 95% CI: 1.41–3.53; p = 0.0006).ConclusionHigh c-MET expression is associated with poor prognosis and advanced disease in ESCA, highlighting its potential as a biomarker for risk stratification. Further studies are needed to confirm its prognostic value and explore therapeutic implications.
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spelling doaj-art-79ea017c3cd74acdb4e1b1a37b7d8ec22025-08-20T02:45:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-02-011210.3389/fmed.2025.15481601548160Prognostic value of c-MET in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a study based on the mRNA expression in TCGA database and a meta-analysisQiqi Zhang0Xiujuan Li1Jian Li2Zhiqiang Zhang3Department of Gastroenterology II, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Urumqi, ChinaDepartment of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology II, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Urumqi, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology II, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Treatment of High Incidence Diseases in Central Asia, Urumqi, ChinaObjectiveThis study aims to assess the mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor’s (c-MET) prognostic value in oesophageal carcinoma (ESCA) through a meta-analysis and bioinformatics.MethodsWe analysed c-MET expression in ESCA tissues using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate its association with clinicopathological factors and survival outcomes. The meta-analysis included studies reporting hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs) for survival and metastatic outcomes.ResultsThe Cancer Genome Atlas analysis revealed elevated c-MET expression in ESCA, which was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis, tumour grade and stage, though not with overall survival (OS). In the meta-analysis, 278 publications were identified, and 89 duplicates were removed. After screening, 176 articles were excluded, leaving 13 for full-text review. Of these, 5 studies lacked sufficient survival data, resulting in 8 eligible studies with a total of 1,488 patients. Meta-analysis findings indicated that high c-MET expression was associated with worse OS (HR = 1.54, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17–2.01; p = 0.002), distant metastasis (OR = 1.97, 95% CI: 1.14–3.40; p = 0.02) and advanced stage (OR = 2.23, 95% CI: 1.41–3.53; p = 0.0006).ConclusionHigh c-MET expression is associated with poor prognosis and advanced disease in ESCA, highlighting its potential as a biomarker for risk stratification. Further studies are needed to confirm its prognostic value and explore therapeutic implications.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1548160/fullproto-oncogene proteins mesenchymal-epithelial transition factoroesophageal squamous cell carcinomaprognosismeta-analysisbiomarkers
spellingShingle Qiqi Zhang
Xiujuan Li
Jian Li
Zhiqiang Zhang
Prognostic value of c-MET in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a study based on the mRNA expression in TCGA database and a meta-analysis
Frontiers in Medicine
proto-oncogene proteins mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor
oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma
prognosis
meta-analysis
biomarkers
title Prognostic value of c-MET in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a study based on the mRNA expression in TCGA database and a meta-analysis
title_full Prognostic value of c-MET in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a study based on the mRNA expression in TCGA database and a meta-analysis
title_fullStr Prognostic value of c-MET in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a study based on the mRNA expression in TCGA database and a meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Prognostic value of c-MET in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a study based on the mRNA expression in TCGA database and a meta-analysis
title_short Prognostic value of c-MET in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a study based on the mRNA expression in TCGA database and a meta-analysis
title_sort prognostic value of c met in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma a study based on the mrna expression in tcga database and a meta analysis
topic proto-oncogene proteins mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor
oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma
prognosis
meta-analysis
biomarkers
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1548160/full
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