title: Prognostic role of Aurora-A expression in metastatic colorectal cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aurora kinase family plays an important role in mitosis and cell cycle organization. Aurora-A is an important member of the aurora kinase family and its expression increases the genomic instability and contributes to carcinogenesis. In this study, the prognostic role of Aurora-A expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) was assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Metastatic CRC patients, whose diagnoses were histopathologically confirmed and who were followed up at the Antalya Education and Research Hospital between 2008 and 2010, were included in the study. Aurora-A expression was assessed with immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 40 patients were included in the study. Aurora-A expression was determined as positive in 33 (82.5%) patients and as negative in 7 (17.5%). No significant correlation was determined between Aurora-A expression and tumor location, metastatic location and histological subtype (p=0.549, 0.511, and 0.709, respectively). Also, no significant correlation was determined between Aurora-A expression and overall survival (p=0.202). Median survival was 8.7 months (95) confidence interval/CI 6.9-10.4) in patients with negative Aurora-A expression, whereas it was 22.6 months (95% CI 12-33.3) in patients with positive Aurora-A expression (p=0.202).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the lack of statistical significance, we speculate that Aurora-A overexpression may have a positive effect on the survival of patients. With this regard, there is a need for further comprehensive studies examining the relation and effect of Aurora-A expression on survival and response to treatment.
authors.affiliation: Antalya Education and Research Hospital, Department of Medical Oncology, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sevil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goktas
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Dinc
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Suren
authors.forename: Arsenal Sezgin
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Alikanoglu
authors.forename: Utku Donem
authors.initials: UD
authors.lastname: Dilli
authors.forename: Nurullan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bulbuller
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sezer
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yildiz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D064096:Aurora Kinase A / Q000032:analysis*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: C576917:AURKA protein, human; D064096:Aurora Kinase A