title: Activation of the serine/theronine protein kinase Akt in enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Akt is a regulator of cell proliferation, tumorigenesis and apoptosis. This study evaluated the incidence of Akt activation in a subset of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and its correlation to clinical pathological parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  A subset of 46 samples from patients with enteropancreatic NETs (26 male and 20 female) were selected for evaluation. The tissue slides were stained with a mouse monoclonal antiphospho-Akt antibody using the avidin-biotin-complex method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tumors were from the small (n = 18) and large bowel (n = 9) and from the pancreas (n = 16). Activation of Akt was detected in 61% (28/46) of cases. No statistical correlation was found between the p-Akt score and tumor grade (p = 0.72), tumor size (p = 0.72) and the presence of metastases (p = 0.52).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows activation of Akt in a subset of enteropancreatic NET for the first time. This finding suggests a role of p-Akt in NET carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of South Florida, College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Masoumeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghayouri
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boulware
authors.forename: Aejaz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nasir
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strosberg
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kvols
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coppola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000201:enzymology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt