title: Expression and significance of Rac1, Pak1 and Rock1 in gastric carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rac1, Pak1 and Rock1 are indicators related to gastric cancer invasion and metastasis, but few reports discuss all three kinds of protein in research on gastric cancer invasion and metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and clinical significance of Rac1, Pak1 and Rock1 in gastric carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rac1, Pak1 and Rock1 expression in 158 cases of gastric carcinoma were investigated via immunohistochemical staining and clinical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The positive expression rates of Rac1, Pak1 and Rock1 in normal tissue, intraepithelial neoplastic tissues and gastric carcinoma showed an increasing trend (P < 0.05). Their expression in lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than in patients with lymph-node metastasis than in those without lymph nodes metastasis (P < 0.05). Their expression in tumor (TNM stages III and IV) were significantly higher than that in stages I and II (P < 0.05). Rac1, Pak1 and Rock1 expression did not differ significantly with patients' sex (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Positive rates of Rac1, Pak1 and Rock1 expression in normal tissue, dysplasia and gastric carcinoma show an increasing trend and are correlated with tumor lymph node metastasis and TNM stage. Rac1, Pak1 and Rock1 may be important biomarkers of gastric carcinoma invasion and metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Xiangtan Affiliated Clinical Institute, University of South China, Xiangtan.
authors.forename: Yong-jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Zhen-feng
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zhen-jiang
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis; D054462:p21-Activated Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C107953:RAC1 protein, human; C515903:PAK1 protein, human; C515851:ROCK1 protein, human; D054462:p21-Activated Kinases; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein
keywords: Pak1; Rac1; Rock1; gastric neoplasm; immunohistochemistry; tissue microarray