Expression of focal adhesion kinase in normal and pathologic human prostate tissues.
BACKGROUND
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) regulates multiple cellular processes including growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility, and apoptosis. In tumor cells, including prostate adenocarcinoma, FAK overexpression has been linked to cancer progression.


METHODS
By using immunohistochemistry, FAK expression was investigated in human prostate specimens.


RESULTS
FAK was expressed predominantly in the basal layer of normal prostate epithelium but not in secretory epithelium. FAK was expressed at similar levels in all stages of prostate tumorigenesis, including preinvasive carcinoma and metastatic disease. Elevated FAK expression was observed at the earliest stages of transformation and expression continued during cancer progression.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the established role for FAK in the regulation of integrin signaling, we suggest that the sustained elevated levels of FAK expression during prostate tumor cell progression is consistent with a role for FAK in the development and maintenance of prostate carcinoma.
Rovin
Joshua D
JD
Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 22908, USA.
Frierson
Henry F
HF
Ledinh
Wayne
W
Parsons
J Thomas
JT
Adams
Reid B
RB
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D015153:Blotting, Western; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C496050:PTK2 protein, human; C496051:Ptk2 protein, mouse