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2010, Volume 26, Number 1, Page(s) 007-013
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DOI: 10.5146/tjpath.2010.00989 |
PAK-1 Expression in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Tissue Microarray Study |
İpek ÇOBAN1, Olca BAŞTÜRK2, Edi LEVİ3, Murat ALPER4, N. Volkan ADSAY1 |
1Emory Üniversitesi, Patoloji Bölümü, ATLANTA 2New York Üniversitesi, Patoloji Bölümü, NEW YORK 3Wayne State Üniversitesi, Patoloji Bölümü, DETROIT, ABD 4S.B. Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Patoloji Bölümü, ANKARA, TÜRKİYE1Department of Pathology, Emory University, ATLANTA 2New York University, NEW YORK 3Wayne State University, DETROIT, USA 4M.H. Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Education and Resarch Hospital, ANKARA, TURKEY |
Keywords:
PAK-1, Pancreas, Ductal adenocarcinoma |
Objective: PAK-1, a member of p21-activated serine/threonine protein
kinases family, plays an important role in regulating cell motility
and invasiveness. To our knowledge, it has not been investigated in
pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) yet.
Material and Method: Expression level of PAK-1 was tested in a set
of tissue microarray containing 98 cases of PDA. Based on the degree
of expression level (calculated by an established scoring system
incorporating the extent and the intensity of labeling), cases were
assigned to one of 4 categories: 0-none, 1-minimal, 2-moderate, and
3-significant. Expression levels were correlated with clinicopathologic
features, prognostic parameters, survival, the archival data on K-ras
mutation (PCR) and DPC4, p53, p21, p27 and Her2/neu.
Results: PAK-1 had a weak expression in ducts and acini while the
islets were not stained. In PDAs, 35, 42, and 21 cases had significant,
moderate and minimal expression, respectively. The expression had
a strong inverse correlation with tumor grade (p=0.04). Cases with
significant PAK-1 expression had a much better overall survival
(median 24 months) compared to those with moderate and minimal
expression (median 7 months) (Chi-square=41.07, p=0.001). Cox
Proportional-Hazards Regression Analysis showed that PAK-
1 expression was independently correlated with better survival
(p=0.0001). PAK-1 expression also had a strong correlation with
DPC4 expression (p=0.035). No significant association with K-ras,
p53, p21, p27 or Her2/neu was found.
Conclusion: In contrast to breast and colorectal cancers, PAK-1
expression seems to be a good prognostic factor in PDA. Correlation
of PAK-1 and DPC4 expression, suggests that PAK-1 expression may
be associated with TGF-β signaling and has a different role in PDA
compared to breast and colorectal cancers. Further studies are needed
to explore the role of PAK-1 in PDA.
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