George Vande Woude

George Vande Woude discovered the MET proto-oncogene and characterized its role as the receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). His research established MET as a key driver of cancer invasion and metastasis, showing that MET activation promotes cell motility, invasion through basement membranes, and organ-specific metastasis. He also made foundational contributions to understanding cell cycle control through his work on the c-mos proto-oncogene and maturation promoting factor. His discovery of the MET-HGF axis directly motivated the development of multiple MET inhibitors now approved for cancer treatment.