High focal adhesion kinase expression in invasive breast carcinomas is associated with an aggressive phenotype.
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| Abstract |
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a protein tyrosine kinase expressed in invasive breast cancer that regulates antiapoptotic signaling. We have examined FAK expression by immunohistochemistry using anti-FAK 4.47 in breast tumor samples from a large population-based, case-control study of women participating in the University of North Carolina Breast Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE), Carolina Breast Cancer Study. In this population, 629 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections were stained for FAK and scored as high (3+ or 4+ intensity and > or = 90% positive cells) or otherwise. High FAK expression was associated with poor prognostic indicators including high mitotic index (>10 mitoses per 10 consecutive high-power fields), nuclear grade 3, architectural grade 3, estrogen and progesterone receptor negative, and HER-2/neu overexpressed using CB11 antibody. The association of high FAK expression with HER-2/neu overexpression lends further support that HER-2/neu and FAK collaborate to promote tumorigenesis. The presence of strong FAK expression in many high grade, estrogen- and progesterone-negative breast carcinomas indicates that FAK may be an attractive target for therapeutic intervention.
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| Authors | Amy L Lark, Chad A Livasy, Lynn Dressler, Dominic T Moore, Robert C Millikan, Joseph Geradts, Mary Iacocca, David Cowan, Debbie Little, Rolf J Craven, William Cance |
| Journal | Modern pathology : an official journal of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, Inc (Mod Pathol) Vol. 18 Issue 10 Pg. 1289-94 (Oct 2005) ISSN: 0893-3952 [Print] United States |
| PMID | 15861214 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural) |
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