title: Overexpression of PAK-1 is an independent predictor of disease recurrence in colorectal carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is a significant cause of major morbidity and mortality. PAK-1 is a protein that regulates cytoskeletal dynamics and cell motility. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the relationship between PAK-1 immunoexpression and CRC progression and its validity as an independent prognostic factor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paraffin blocks of 103 primary CRCs and 37 nodal metastases were retrieved and tissue microarrays were constructed. Immunohistochemistry was performed using anti-PAK-1 antibody. Immunostaining was scored and results were analysed in relation to clinicopathological parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PAK-1 was overexpressed in primary CRC (P<0.001). No difference between low and high expression in nodal metastasis (P=0.139). There was no difference between PAK-1 immunoexpression in primary and nodal metastasis (P=0.275). High PAK-1 immunoexpression was associated with disease recurrence (P=0.03). However, there was no association with most clinicopathological parameters. PAK-1 overexpression was detected as an independent predictor of disease recurrence (P=0.05). No association was found between PAK-1 immunoexpression and disease free survival (log-rank =1.287, P=0.257).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PAK-1 overexpression may be involved in CRC progression and could be considered an independent predictor of disease recurrence. Further in vivo and in vitro molecular studies are needed to investigate the role of PAK-1 in colorectal carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, King Abdulaziz UniversityJeddah, Saudi Arabia; Scientific Chair for Colorectal Cancer, King Abdulaziz UniversityJeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Jaudah
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Al-Maghrabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, King Abdulaziz UniversityJeddah, Saudi Arabia; Department of Pathology, Alexandria UniversityEgypt.
authors.forename: Eman
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Emam
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, King Abdulaziz UniversityJeddah, Saudi Arabia; Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia UniversityEl-Minia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Wafaey
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gomaa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, King Abdulaziz University Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Doaa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Al-Qaydy
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, King Abdulaziz University Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Basim
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Al-Maghrabi
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdelbaset
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buhmeida
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Adel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abuzenadah
authors.affiliation: Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Qahtani
authors.affiliation: Scientific Chair for Colorectal Cancer, King Abdulaziz UniversityJeddah, Saudi Arabia; Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz UniversityJeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Ahwal
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015854:Up-Regulation; D054462:p21-Activated Kinases / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C515903:PAK1 protein, human; D054462:p21-Activated Kinases
keywords: PAK-1; colorectal carcinoma; immunohistochemistry; prognosis