Клінічне та молекулярне значення мутацій гена MET у пацієнтів із недрібноклітинним раком легень в Азербайджані: ретроспективний аналіз

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for approximately 85 % of all cases. The MET proto-oncogene has emerged as a critical molecular target due to its involvement in cellular proliferation, motility, and metastasis. Among MET alterations, exon 14 skipping mutations have gained significant clinical relevance as actionable biomarkers in NSCLC. Aim: to determine the frequency and clinical characteristics of MET gene mutations in Azerbaijani patients diagnosed with NSCLC, and to provide a detailed descriptive analysis of mutation-positive cases. Materials and methods. This retrospective study included 187 patients with histologically confirmed NSCLC treated at the National Oncology Center (Baku, Azerbaijan) between 2014 and 2024. MET mutation analysis was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor samples using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with Qiagen and EntroGen reagents. All detected mutations were subsequently validated using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Descriptive statistics were used due to the limited number of mutation-positive cases (n = 16). Results. MET gene mutations were identified in 16 out of 187 patients, representing a prevalence of 8.6 %. The mean age of MET-positive patients was 66.5 years (range: 53–84), with a male predominance (81 %). Most patients presented with advanced-stage disease (stage III–IV: 93.7 %), and adenocarcinoma was the predominant histological subtype (93.7 %). The median overall survival was 598 days. Tobacco use was reported in 56 % of cases, and alcohol consumption in 19 %. Patients originated from diverse regions of Azerbaijan, with the majority residing in