PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Lim, J
AU  - Kim, J-H
AU  - Paeng, J-Y
AU  - Kim, M-J
AU  - Hong, S-D
AU  - Lee, J-I
AU  - Hong, S-P
TI  - Prognostic value of activated Akt expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma
AID  - 10.1136/jcp.2004.024786
DP  - 2005 Nov 01
TA  - Journal of Clinical Pathology
PG  - 1199--1205
VI  - 58
IP  - 11
4099  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/58/11/1199.short
4100  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/58/11/1199.full
SO  - J Clin Pathol2005 Nov 01; 58
AB  - Background: Akt is a serine/threonine kinase that plays an important role in tumorigenesis and influences prognosis in several cancers. However, its importance in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) has not been elucidated. Aim: To investigate the association between the expression of activated Akt, clinicopathological factors, and E-cadherin, PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen), and VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) expression to verify the validity of Akt as a prognostic factor in OSCC. Methods: Phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), E-cadherin, PCNA, and VEGF expression were assessed immunohistochemically in 84 OSCCs. The results were analysed in relation to clinicopathological factors. Results: p-Akt was expressed in 29 cases. It was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, and E-cadherin expression. Univariate analysis showed that p-Akt expression, E-cadherin expression, PCNA expression, differentiation, tumour size, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, and recurrence correlated with prognosis. Multivariate analysis showed that p-Akt expression is an independent prognostic factor in patients with OSCC. Conclusions: This study revealed that Akt activation is a significant prognostic indicator for OSCC and is correlated with E-cadherin expression. The inhibition of Akt is a possible molecular approach to the treatment of OSCC.