%0 Journal Article
%T Increased expression of integrin-linked kinase is associated with shorter survival in non-small cell lung cancer
%A Iwao Takanami
%J BMC Cancer
%D 2005
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1471-2407-5-1
%X We investigated ILK expression in patients with NSCLC by means of immunohistochemistry.ILK expression was significantly associated with tumor grade, T status, lymph node metastasis and stage. (p = 0.0169 for tumor grade; p = 0.0006 for T status; p = 0.0002 for lymph node metastasis; p < 0.0001 for stage). The 5-year survival rates for patients with strong and weak or no ILK expression levels were 20% and 59%, respectively: the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). A multivariate analysis of survival revealed that ILK expression, T status, N status and vascular invasion were statistically significant prognostic factors (p = 0.0218 for ILK; p = 0.0046 for T status; p < 0.0001 for N status; p < 0.0001 for vascular invasion).Our study demonstrates that increased expression of ILK is a poor prognostic factor in patients with NSCLC.Interaction of cells with the extracellular matrix regulates many physiological and pathological processes. These interactions are mediated by a large family of cell surface receptors known as integrins, which recognize several extracellular matrix proteins, including fibronectin, collagens, and vitronectin [1]. Integrins act as the bridge between extracellular matrix components and the cytoskeleton and other proteins, regulating cell survival, proliferation, differentiation, and migration [1]. Integrins are important mediators of tumor invasion and metastasis through interaction with extracellular matrix. All integrins are heterodimers composed of one copy each of two subunits, ¦Á and ¦Â. Many studies examined the association between integrins and clinicalpathology or prognosis in lung cancer. Reduced integrin ¦Á3¦Â1 expression was reported to be a factor of poor prognosis in pulmonary adenocarcinoma [2]. Increased expression of integrin ¦Â1 was reported to be a poor prognosis in small cell lung cancer [3]. Integrin ¦Á5¦Â1 was reported to be associated with lymph node metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [4], or to be a p
%U http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/5/1