Probing the Expression of ASAP1 and FAK in nonsmall cell lung cancer and their clinicopathological significance

Abstract

Abstract Objective This study is aimed to analyze the expression levels of ADP ribosylation factor guanylate kinase 1 (ASAP1) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues for the purpose of exploring their association with clinicopathological features of and prognosis of NSCLC. Methods NSCLC cancerous tissues along with its adjacent normal lung tissues, with complete clinical data, were collected for 84 cases. The expression of ASAP1 and FAK was measured by using immunohistochemical methods. The analysis was done using the results combined with clinicopathological features and prognosis. Results The expression of ASAP1 and FAK in NSCLC tissues was significantly higher than those in the normal lung tissues (both P < 0.05), and ASAP1 expression was positively associated with FAK expression (P < 0.001). The high expression of both proteins and consistent high expression was independent of sex (both P > 0.05). Although, it was related to age, depth of invasion, and pathological stage (both P < 0.05). The expressions of both proteins were associated with cancer recurrence (both P < 0.05). The results of a 10-year follow-up showed that the high expression and a consistently high expression of both the proteins was correlated negatively with the survival rates (both P < 0.05). Specifically, the overall survival rate was higher in patients with low FAK/ASAP1 expression as compared to patients with high FAK/ASAP1 expression. The survival rate was also found to be higher with consistent low expression of both the protein than with consistent high expression and nonuniform high expression (both P < 0.05). Conclusion ASAP1 and FAK are highly expressed in NSCLC tissues, which should have a synergistic effect in promoting the occurrence, development, invasion and metastasis of NSCLC, and are closely related to survival and recurrence, which is expected to be used as molecular indicator of NSCLC biological behavior and prognosis.