High focal adhesion kinase expression in invasive breast carcinomas is associated with an aggressive phenotype.
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.
Lark
Amy L
AL
Department of Pathology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Livasy
Chad A
CA
Dressler
Lynn
L
Moore
Dominic T
DT
Millikan
Robert C
RC
Geradts
Joseph
J
Iacocca
Mary
M
Cowan
David
D
Little
Debbie
D
Craven
Rolf J
RJ
Cance
William
W
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases