Prognostic value of activated Akt expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma

• Published in: Journal of clinical pathology 2005-11, Vol.58 (11), p.1199-1205
• Main Authors: Lim, J, Kim, J-H, Paeng, J-Y, Kim, M-J, Hong, S-D, Lee, J-I, Hong, S-P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Akt; Angiogenesis; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Cadherins - metabolism; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - secondary; Cell adhesion & migration; Cell growth; Cervical cancer; E-cadherin; Female; Gene expression; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Kinases; labelling index; Lymphatic system; Male; Medical prognosis; Medical sciences; Metastasis; Middle Aged; Mouth Neoplasms - metabolism; Mouth Neoplasms - pathology; Multivariate analysis; Neoplasm Proteins - metabolism; Neoplasm Staging; Oral cancer; oral squamous cell carcinoma; Original; OSCC; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; p-Akt; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; PBS; PCNA; phosphate buffered saline; phosphorylated Akt; Phosphorylation; Prognosis; prognostic factor; proliferating cell nuclear antigen; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen - metabolism; Proportional Hazards Models; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt - metabolism; Survival Analysis; Tumors; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism; VEGF
• ISSN: 0021-9746; 1472-4146
• DOI: 10.1136/jcp.2004.024786

Background: Akt is a serine/threonine kinase that plays an important role in tumorigenesis and influences prognosis in several cancers. However, its importance in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) has not been elucidated. Aim: To investigate the association between the expression of activated Akt, clinicopathological factors, and E-cadherin, PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen), and VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) expression to verify the validity of Akt as a prognostic factor in OSCC. Methods: Phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), E-cadherin, PCNA, and VEGF expression were assessed immunohistochemically in 84 OSCCs. The results were analysed in relation to clinicopathological factors. Results: p-Akt was expressed in 29 cases. It was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, and E-cadherin expression. Univariate analysis showed that p-Akt expression, E-cadherin expression, PCNA expression, differentiation, tumour size, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, and recurrence correlated with prognosis. Multivariate analysis showed that p-Akt expression is an independent prognostic factor in patients with OSCC. Conclusions: This study revealed that Akt activation is a significant prognostic indicator for OSCC and is correlated with E-cadherin expression. The inhibition of Akt is a possible molecular approach to the treatment of OSCC.