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Expression and prognostic significance of focal adhesion kinase in hepatocellular carcinoma

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Abstract

Aim

To examine the expressions of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and its clinical significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

We determined the expression levels of FAK on both steady-state mRNA and protein levels in 50 HCC samples by quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The correlations between FAK expression and various clinicopathological parameters were analyzed.

Results

The expression of FAK on the mRNA level was consistent with that on the protein level. FAK mRNA levels in tumor tissues were significantly higher than in the paratumor tissues (0.229 ± 0.027 vs. 0.163 ± 0.019; P < 0.001), but lower than in the macroscopic cancer emboli (0.506 ± 0.155 vs. 0.377 ± 0.176; P < 0.05). Compared within the tumor tissues, FAK expressions were significantly higher in those with cancer emboli than those without (0.343 ± 0.05 vs. 0.165 ± 0.025; P = 0.003). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that FAK expression was an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival and overall survival. Both 3-year disease-free survival rates and overall survival rates in FAK-negative group were significantly higher than in positive group (52 vs. 20% and 72 vs. 29%, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that FAK expression is up-regulated in HCC and its expression is an independent prognostic factor for HCC.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.30872512.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgery, The Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 600 Yishan RD, Shanghai, 200233, China

    Zhou Yuan, Qi Zheng, Kai-xing Ai, Jie Chen & Xin-yu Huang

  2. Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin RD, Shanghai, 200032, China

    Jia Fan

Authors
  1. Zhou Yuan
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  2. Qi Zheng
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  3. Jia Fan
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  4. Kai-xing Ai
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  5. Jie Chen
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  6. Xin-yu Huang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xin-yu Huang.

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Yuan, Z., Zheng, Q., Fan, J. et al. Expression and prognostic significance of focal adhesion kinase in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 136, 1489–1496 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-010-0806-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-010-0806-y

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