title: Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) immunocytochemical expression in breast ductal invasive carcinoma (DIC): correlation with clinicopathological parameters and tumor proliferative capacity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is an enzyme of the tyrosine kinase group linked to signaling pathways between cells and the extracellular matrix. In tumor cells in vitro, FAK expression correlated with their ability for invasion and metastasis. Additionally, in vivo FAK has been implicated in malignant transformation and disease progression. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical significance of FAK expression in breast ductal invasive carcinoma (DIC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunocytochemical techniques were used to assess FAK expression on cytological material obtained from 73 patients with breast DIC. FAK expression status (positivity, overexpression, and intensity of immunostaining) was compared with clinicopathological parameters and the tumor cells' proliferative capacity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-four of the 73 DIC cases (88%) were FAK positive and FAK protein overexpression was noted in 15 of the 73 (21%). In the DIC cases examined, FAK positivity correlated with tumor size (p=0.016) and FAK protein overexpression with tumor histological grade (p=0.034) and the tumor cells' proliferative capacity (p=0.003). The intensity of FAK protein staining did not significantly correlate with any of the examined clinicopathological parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In breast DIC it becomes evident that FAK protein positivity and overexpression correlate with important clinicopathological parameters. Further molecular and clinical studies are required to delineate the significance of FAK as a factor for better prognosis and management of breast cancer patients.
authors: Department of Tumor Biology, Section of Cytopathology, Institut Curie, Paris, France. theocharis@ath.forthnet.gr
authors: Stamatios E
authors: SE
authors: Theocharis
authors: Jerzy T
authors: JT
authors: Klijanienko
authors: Elianne
authors: E
authors: Padoy
authors: Stavros
authors: S
authors: Athanassiou
authors: Xavier X
authors: XX
authors: Sastre-Garau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness
chemical_list: D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases