Aims
The hepatocyte growth factor/transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor c-Met has been defined as a potential target in antitumoral treatment of various carcinomas. We aimed to investigate the direct effect of c-Met inhibition on neuroendocrine tumor cells in vitro.
Background/aims
The hepatocyte growth factor/transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor c-Met has been defined as a potential target in antitumoral treatment of various carcinomas. We aimed to investigate the direct effect of c-Met inhibition on neuroendocrine tumor cells in vitro.
Conclusions
Our in vitro data suggest that c-Met inhibition alone is not sufficient to exert direct antitumoral or antimigratory effects in neuroendocrine tumor cells. The multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitors cabozantinib and tivantinib show promising antitumoral and antimigratory effects in neuroendocrine tumor cells, which are most probably 'off-target' effects, not mediated by c-Met.
Methods
The effects of the multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitors cabozantinib and tivantinib and of the highly specific c-Met inhibitor INC280 were investigated in human pancreatic neuroendocrine BON1, bronchopulmonary NCI-H727 and midgut GOT1 cells in vitro.
Results
INC280, cabozantinib and tivantinib inhibited c-Met phosphorylation, respectively. However, while equimolar concentrations (10 μM) of cabozantinib and tivantinib inhibited cell viability and cell migration, INC280 had no inhibitory effect. Knockdown experiments with c-Met siRNA also did not demonstrate effects on cell viability. Cabozantinib and tivantinib caused a G2 arrest in neuroendocrine tumor cells. Conclusions: Our in vitro data suggest that c-Met inhibition alone is not sufficient to exert direct antitumoral or antimigratory effects in neuroendocrine tumor cells. The multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitors cabozantinib and tivantinib show promising antitumoral and antimigratory effects in neuroendocrine tumor cells, which are most probably 'off-target' effects, not mediated by c-Met.