title: Association of p21-activated kinase-1 activity with aggressive tumor behavior and poor prognosis of head and neck cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study investigated the role of p21-activated kinase (PAK)-1 in progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined PAK isoforms and explored whether PAK activation enhanced in vitro invasion of the HNSCC cell line. We analyzed the relationship between PAK1 expression and various clinicopathological features and investigated the effect of PAK1 overexpression on survival in 119 patients with HNSCC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PAK1 and PAK2 are predominantly expressed in HNSCC cells and patient tissues. Particularly, PAK1 makes the dominant contribution to increase in cell migration and invasion. There was a statistically significant correlation between PAK1 overexpression and aggressive cancer behavior. Moreover, PAK1 seemed to be a prognostic factor for overall and disease-specific survival in patients. Interestingly, enhancement of PAK1 expression was found in the invasive front of cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PAK1 is associated with the aggressive tumor behavior and poor prognosis of head and neck cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Metabolic Diseases and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Research Institute for Medical Sciences, Daejeon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jisoo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Metabolic Diseases and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Research Institute for Medical Sciences, Daejeon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Man
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Cancer Research Institute, Research Institute for Medical Sciences, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Kyu
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Metabolic Diseases and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Research Institute for Medical Sciences, Daejeon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Songmei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Research Institute, Research Institute for Medical Sciences, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Seo Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Research Institute, Research Institute for Medical Sciences, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyeung A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Metabolic Diseases and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Research Institute for Medical Sciences, Daejeon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Gyeyeong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Metabolic Diseases and Cell Signaling Laboratory, Research Institute for Medical Sciences, Daejeon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jongsun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Research Institute, Research Institute for Medical Sciences, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Bon Seok
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Koo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011379:Prognosis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D015996:Survival Rate; D014162:Transfection; D014945:Wound Healing; D054462:p21-Activated Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D054462:p21-Activated Kinases
keywords: head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; invasion; p21-activated kinase (PAK); prognosis; target