Focal adhesion kinase expression is not a prognostic predictor in colon adenocarcinoma patients

Aim: Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is an enzyme of the tyrosine kinase group linked to signaling pathways between cells and their extracellular matrix. FAK expression in tumor cells in vitro may correlate with their ability for invasion and metastasis. Methods: FAK protein expression was examined immunohistochemically in 80 cases of colon adenocarcinoma, and correlated with clinicopathological parameters; tumor proliferative capacity, reflected by Ki-67 antigen expression; and survival. Results: All tumor samples were FAK positive compared to normal colonic mucosa. FAK protein overexpression was seen in 32 out of 80 cases. FAK protein overexpression did not correlated with tumor histological grade, stage, Ki-67 positivity or survival. Conclusions: Raised FAK protein expression was noted by immunohistochemistry in human colon carcinoma cases. The implication are discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.