The cell surface c-Met receptor, through which hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) signals are mediated, has now been identified as the Angiotensin-IV receptor (AT(4)R) in processes that include HGF-regulated cell motility, angiogenesis, cancer metastasis, adipogenesis and others. Disclosed are angiotensin-like factor compositions and methods for using them to diagnose, prevent and/or treat conditions associated with c-Met dysregulation, including cancer, obesity and conditions associated with obesity, and other disorders, for example, by altering hepatocyte growth factor activity or c-Met receptor activity by administering an angiotensin-like factor that specifically binds to a cell surface c-Met receptor.