Relation between the expression of c-Met and cervical lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinomas

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c-Met is the receptor of hepatocyte growth factor and is linked to metastasis and proliferation of cancer. β-eaten in is a protein that binds to the cytoplasmic tail of cadherins and has an essential role in intercellular adhesion and signal transduction. We examined the expressions of c-Met and β-catenin in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) by immunohistochemical staining. Thirty tissue specimens each for the cervical lymph node metastasis group (N(+)) and for the no lymph node metastasis group (N(-)) were obtained from the Osaka Dental University Hospital. We also investigated the T category and the clinical stage of OSCC. Of 30 N(+) cases, three (10%) had negative reactions and 27 (90%) were positive to c-Met. Of 30 N(-) cases, 14 (47%) had negative reactions and 16 (53%) were positive to c-Met. We found that c-Met overexpression was greater in N(+) than in N(-), greater in advanced T categories than in early T categories, and greater in the advanced clinical stages than in early clinical stages. Reduced β-catenin expression was also observed in the N(+) group. There were statistically significant differences in the expression of c-Met between N(+) and N(-), for the different T categories, and for the different clinical stages. We found the expressions of c-Met and β-catenin were independent prognostic factors. These results suggest that the expressions of c-Met and β-catenin may be effective in screening OSCC with N(+).