Recent Advances in c-MET Inhibitors and c-MET Target Radiopharmaceuticals: Novel Approaches for Cancer Diagnostics

Abstract

Mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition factor (c-MET) is a receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) found in epithelial tissues. It plays a crucial role in cell survival, growth, differentiation, and angiogenesis. In particular, c-MET activation is closely associated with cancer cell migration, invasion, and metastasis, while aberrant HGF/ c-MET signaling promotes the progression of various cancers. Based on these findings, various drugs targeting the HGF/c-MET signaling pathway have been developed. This review summarizes the preclinical and clinical evaluations of antibody-based inhibitors, three types of small-molecule c-MET tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and radiopharmaceuticals derived from these drug structures, emphasizing recent advancements in c-MET inhibitors.