c-Met-Targeted Imaging Agents: Progress and Challenges

Abstract

Cellular-mesenchymal epithelial transition factor (c-Met), a receptor tyrosine kinase, participates in various human physiological processes, including cell proliferation, embryonic development, and tissue regeneration via the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-Met signaling pathway. Abnormal activation of this pathway is associated with tumor growth and treatment resistance. Previous work has demonstrated that c-Met is overexpressed in various solid tumors, making it a potential therapeutic target. The development of diagnostic and therapeutic agents targeting c-Met is also of considerable interest. In this review, we provide an overview of the current progress with c-Met-targeted probes that use HGF ligands, antibodies, peptides, and small molecules for noninvasive imaging with techniques such as MRI, PET, SPECT, and optical imaging. We also summarize the design strategies and imaging effects used for tumor diagnosis. Through these insights, we aim to facilitate the further advancement of novel c-Met-targeted imaging agents, thereby enhancing the precision of tumor diagnosis and evaluation of drug efficacy.