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.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Breast Neoplasms / enzymology
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Breast Neoplasms / genetics
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Cell Adhesion Molecules / analysis*
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Cell Adhesion Molecules / genetics
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Colon / enzymology
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Colonic Neoplasms / enzymology
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Colonic Neoplasms / genetics
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Focal Adhesion Kinase 1
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Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
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Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
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Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
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Humans
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Neoplasm Invasiveness* / genetics
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Neoplasm Metastasis / genetics
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Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / analysis*
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Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
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Sarcoma / enzymology
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Sarcoma / genetics
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Up-Regulation
Substances
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Cell Adhesion Molecules
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Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
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Focal Adhesion Kinase 1
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Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
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PTK2 protein, human