Metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1 and its role in cancer

The protein product of metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1 (MACC1) gene induces the activation of hepatocyte growth factor/mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (HGF/c-Met) signaling pathway through transcriptionally activating c-Met gene and upregulating its expression to further promote tumor invasion and metastasis. High level expression of MACC1 is associated with the occurrence and metastasis of a wide variety of human tumors, such as colon cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer etc. In addition, the overexpression of MACC1 is also closely associated with clinical TNM stages and distant metastasis. Thus, MACC1 can serve as an independent indicator of tumor metastasis and prognosis, and become a new target for gene therapy. Key words: Colonic neoplasms; Metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1; Proto-oncogene proteins c-Met