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Medulloblastoma Initiation and Growth: Role of Hepatocyte Growth Factor

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Pediatric Cancer, Volume 3

Part of the book series: Pediatric Cancer ((PECA,volume 3))

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Abstract

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) is a polypeptide growth factor that drives cell cycle progression, blocks apoptosis, stimulates cell motility, and promotes angiogenesis in many tissues, especially during embryonic development. These diverse physiologic effects of HGF/SF are all mediated by a single cell surface receptor, the transmembrane tyrosine kinase encoded by the proto-oncogene c-Met. When pathologically overdriven, HGF/SF:c-Met signaling promotes tumor initiation and growth in many human cancers, including medulloblastoma, a pediatric brain tumor that originates from neural stem cells in the cerebellum. HGF/SF:c-Met signaling has emerged as a promising target for medulloblastoma therapy because the pathway is actively firing in tumor cells and because HGF/SF stimulates multiple oncogenic signaling molecules, against which specific molecular inhibitors have been designed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, 175 North Medical Drive East, Building 550, Room 5228, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA

    Daniel W. Fults

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  1. Daniel W. Fults
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Correspondence to Daniel W. Fults .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Biology, Kean University, Union, New Jersey, USA

    M.A. Hayat

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Fults, D.W. (2012). Medulloblastoma Initiation and Growth: Role of Hepatocyte Growth Factor. In: Hayat, M. (eds) Pediatric Cancer, Volume 3. Pediatric Cancer, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4528-5_11

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