Expression of Focal Adhesion Kinase in Patients With Endometrial Cancer: A Clinicopathologic Study. Issue 7 (1st October 2009)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gabriel, Boris; Hasenburg, Annette; Waizenegger, Miriam; Orlowska-Volk, Marzenna; Stickeler, Elmar; Zur Hausen, Axel
• Is Part Of: International journal of gynecological cancer. Volume 19:Issue 7(2009)
• Page Start: 1221-1225
• Page End: 1221-1225
• Publication Date: 2009-10-01
• Subjects: Focal adhesion kinase -- Endometrial cancer -- Tyrosine kinase -- Survival; Generative organs, Female -- Cancer -- Periodicals; 616.99465
• DOI: 10.1111/IGC.0b013e3181b33c61
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1048-891X

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: The pp125 focal adhesion kinase (FAK) plays a pivotal role in tumor cell signaling. Focal adhesion kinase expression has been linked to tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, but data on endometrial cancer are inconclusive. Methods: We assess FAK expression by immunohistochemistry in endometrial cancer for its value to predict patient prognosis. Results: Of 134 endometrial cancer cases, 120 (89%) revealed moderate and strong expressions of FAK, whereas weak expression was found in 14 (11%) tumors. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated a clear trend toward improved survival rates for patients with endometrial carcinomas weakly expressing FAK, and notably, there was neither lymph node metastasis nor tumor-related death in this patient subgroup. Increased expression of FAK correlated with higher histological tumor grade ( P = 0.002), lymphatic vascular space invasion ( P = 0.003), and vascular space invasion ( P = 0.02). Significant prognostic survival variables were tumor stage ( P < 0.01), histological type ( P < 0.01), tumor grade ( P = 0.028), and pelvic lymph node status ( P = 0.035). Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified histological tumor grade as a significant independent predictor of patient survival (hazards ratio, 2.71; P = 0.03). Conclusions: Further studies are warranted to elucidate whether FAK expression analysis is a suitable tool in stratifying patients at different risks of disease progress, and wether FAK might become a new molecular target for endometrial anticancer therapy.