Overexpression of focal adhesion kinase correlates with increased lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The aim of this study was to investigate whether focal adhesion kinase (FAK) overexpression correlates with lymph node metastases and prognosis.

METHODS:

The protein expression of FAK was investigated in 153 paraffin-embedded tissues by immunohistochemical analysis and then correlated with various clinicopathologic parameters. FAK mRNA level was detected with quantitative RT-PCR in 57 NSCLC frozen tissues and 20 normal matched tissues.

RESULTS:

Immunohistochemistry showed FAK overexpression was significantly associated with positive lymph node metastasis and more advanced disease stage of NSCLCs and adenocarcinoma subtype; real-time PCR also indicated a statistically significant correlation between increased FAK mRNA level and the presence of nodal metastases. Moreover, in survival analysis, FAK overexpression was significantly associated with worse overall survival.

CONCLUSIONS:

FAK overexpression is a promising pathological factor to predict aggressive behavior and prognosis in patients with NSCLC, particularly in the adenocarcinoma subtype.

• Authors: Hong-Fei Ji, Da Pang, Song-Bin Fu, Yan Jin, Lei Yao, Ji-Ping Qi, Jing Bai
• Journal: Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology (J Cancer Res Clin Oncol) Vol. 139 Issue 3 Pg. 429-35 (Mar 2013) ISSN: 1432-1335 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 23143646 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma (diagnosis, genetics, mortality, pathology)
• Adult
• Aged
• Biomarkers, Tumor (genetics, metabolism)
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (diagnosis, genetics, mortality, pathology)
• Female
• Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases (genetics, metabolism, physiology)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic (physiology)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic (physiology)
• Humans
• Lung Neoplasms (diagnosis, genetics, mortality, pathology)
• Lymph Nodes (pathology)
• Lymphatic Metastasis
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prognosis
• Survival Analysis
• Up-Regulation (genetics, physiology)