Table 2 Relationship between c-Met expression and prognostic factors

Age at presentation

No established relationship

[6,46,49,50]

Tumour size

Most studies have found no relationship

[36,46,49,53]

We found inverse correlation between c-Met expression and tumour size

[50]

Lymph node status

Most studies show no relationship

[6,49,53]

We found higher c-Met expression in node-negative tumours

[50]

Tumour grade

Mixed; some studies show no association

[6,36,48]

Some studies show increased c-Met expression in high-grade tumours

[46,49]

One study showed increased c-Met in low-grade tumours

[53]

Histological subtype

Increased c-Met in tubular carcinoma, decreased in lobular carcinoma

[50]

Molecular subtype

Increased c-Met in basal-like breast cancer

[50,51,55,82]

Survival

Increased c-Met associated with reduced survival

[6,38,45-51]