Expression of focal adhesion kinase gene and invasive cancer

T. M. Weiner, R. J. Craven, W. G. Cance, Et Liu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

315 Scopus citations

Abstract

The focal adhesion kinase (FAK) gene produces a tyrosine kinase that localises to contact points between cells and extracellular matrix. It is believed to be an important signal molecule in cell adhesion. We have isolated a human homologue of the FAK gene from primary sarcomas and looked for FAK mRNA in 49 human tissue samples, including paired normal and neoplastic samples. We found increased levels of FAK in 1 of 8 adenomatous tissues, in 17 of 20 invasive tumours, and in all 15 metastatic tumours. There was no detectable FAK mRNA in 6 normal tissue samples. These observations suggest that FAK overexpression may accompany changes in signal pathways involved in tumour cell invasion. Lancet 1993; 342: 1024-25.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1024-1025
Number of pages2
JournalThe Lancet
Volume342
Issue number8878
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 23 1993

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank Lori Kornberg and J Thomas Parsons for helpful discussions; and Jeanette Wedsworth for tumour procurement. This work is supported by National Cancer Institute grants K08-CA-01635 (WGC), 1-P50-CA- 58223-01 SPORE in breast cancer (ETL, RJC, WGC), Early Detection Research Network contract 5-3-35035 (WGC), T32 surgical oncology training grant CA-09688 (TMW), and American Cancer Society grant EDT-13A (ETL).

Funding Information:
We thank Mr Takao Souda for expert analytical assistance. This study was supported in part by research grants from the Morinaga Hoshikai, the Child Health Foundation, and the Mami Mizutani Foundation.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (all)

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