{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.03778866340097971, 'fraction_numerical': 0.02099370188943317, 'mean_word_length': 5.008403361344538, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
MET COPY NUMBER IN TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCERS

Background: Triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) generally show a very poor prognosis with a need for targeted therapy. Expression of MET is elevated in 15–20% of breast cancers. Overexpression is a prognostic marker of poor survival, is associated with TNBCs and high risk of metastatic progression. MET is rarely mutated in breast cancer, however limited studies have indicated that MET overexpression is due to elevated copy number. Targeted inhibition of MET may provide a much needed therapeutic opportunity for treating TNBC. Methods: 89 TNBC cases were analysed for MET copy number using fluorescence in situ hybridisation [Vysis MET SpectrumRed FISH Probe Kit and CEP 7 (D7Z1) SpectrumGreen Probe, Abbott Molecular]. MET protein expression was analysed using immunohistochemistry (SP44 clone antibody, Roche). Results: One case (1.5%) showed elevated copy number for both MET and the CEP7 enumeration probe (average MET = 9.2, average CEP7 = 7.8, ratio = 1.2). This case was not associated with recurrence or poor survival. Forty-seven of 89 (53%) showed MET immunoreactivity. Discussion: Compared with another study1 reporting MET amplificatopm in 14% of TNBC, we have found elevated MET copy number occurs at a low frequency (1.5%) within our cohort and does not account for MET overexpression. Further investigation of MET copy number in larger cohorts is warranted.