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Overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor and its downstream effector, focal adhesion kinase, correlates with papillary thyroid carcinoma progression
Author(s) -
Šelemetjev Sonja,
Bartolome Aleksandar,
Išić Denčić Tijana,
Đorić Ilona,
Paunović Ivan,
Tatić Svetislav,
Cvejić Dubravka
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international journal of experimental pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.671
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1365-2613
pISSN - 0959-9673
DOI - 10.1111/iep.12268
Subject(s) - epidermal growth factor receptor , focal adhesion , immunohistochemistry , pathology , cancer research , effector , blot , western blot , carcinoma , lymph node , lymphatic system , biology , medicine , receptor , signal transduction , immunology , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry
Summary Epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR ) and its downstream effector, focal adhesion kinase ( FAK ), have been shown to be overexpressed frequently in human malignancies and implicated in tumour aggressiveness. We aimed to investigate the relationship between EGFR and FAK expression and their possible correlation with the clinical phenotype of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma ( PTC ). Expression profiles of EGFR and FAK were analysed in PTC tissue samples ( n = 104) by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Additionally, EGFR and FAK were immunohistochemically analysed in 20 primary tumours paired with their metastatic tissue in lymph nodes. High expression of EGFR and FAK was found in 55.77% and 57.69% cases, respectively, with a strong positive association between them ( P < 0.0001, Spearman's correlation coefficient = 0.844). Expression of each molecule and their coexpression correlated significantly with the presence of lymph node metastasis ( LNM ), degree of tumour infiltration, extrathyroid invasion and pT status of the patients. Western blot analysis confirmed that coexpression of high levels of EGFR and FAK correlated with adverse clinicopathological features. When compared to the corresponding primary tumour, increased or maintained high levels of EGFR and FAK were found in LNM , indicating their concordant expression during lymphatic spread. In conclusion, high levels of EGFR and its downstream effector, FAK , in association with lymphatic spread and tumour infiltration indicate their involvement in PTC progression and suggest that both molecules may predict its aggressive behaviour. Furthermore, FAK could be a potential target for anticancer therapy in patients with advanced thyroid cancer.