Fig. 2
From: Molecular mechanism(s) of regulation(s) of c-MET/HGF signaling in head and neck cancer
Chemotherapy resistant acquired in cancer cells via altered MET signaling. This includes overexpression of MET, activation sustained by HGF secreted by CAFs (cancer associated fibroblasts), constitutive activation of MET and secretion of HGF which is not normally expressed by epithelial cells, leading to an autocrine activation loop. This diagram illustrates the effect of EGFR inhibition through monoclonal antibodies alter/ activate MET signaling in cancer cells and causes the chemoresistance in cancer cells through c-MET activation which simultaneously cause reduced apoptosis, increased proliferation, enhanced DNA repair, upregulation of drug efflux and stimulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. All these changes contribute to the development of chemotherapy resistance