Expression and prognostic significance of focal adhesion kinase in hepatocellular carcinoma

To examine the expressions of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and its clinical significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

We determined the expression levels of FAK on both steady-state mRNA and protein levels in 50 HCC samples by quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The correlations between FAK expression and various clinicopathological parameters were analyzed.

The expression of FAK on the mRNA level was consistent with that on the protein level. FAK mRNA levels in tumor tissues were significantly higher than in the paratumor tissues (0.229 ± 0.027 vs. 0.163 ± 0.019; P < 0.001), but lower than in the macroscopic cancer emboli (0.506 ± 0.155 vs. 0.377 ± 0.176; P < 0.05). Compared within the tumor tissues, FAK expressions were significantly higher in those with cancer emboli than those without (0.343 ± 0.05 vs. 0.165 ± 0.025; P = 0.003). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that FAK expression was an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival and overall survival. Both 3-year disease-free survival rates and overall survival rates in FAK-negative group were significantly higher than in positive group (52 vs. 20% and 72 vs. 29%, P < 0.001).

Our results suggest that FAK expression is up-regulated in HCC and its expression is an independent prognostic factor for HCC.