Expression and clinical significance of FAK, ILK, and PTEN in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma

Conclusion: Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and integrin-linked kinase (ILK) are highly expressed in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC), especially metastatic SACC, suggesting their potential role as prognostic markers for SACC. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the expression of FAK, ILK, and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) in SACC tissues and the clinical significance. Methods: PAK and ILK expression in samples from 50 cases of SACC and 12 subjects with normal salivary glands was detected by immunohistochemical analysis. PAK and ILK expression in SACC cell lines was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Results: The positive rate of PAK and ILK staining was 94% (47/50) and 48% (24/50) in SACC, respectively, significantly higher than in normal salivary gland tissues (p < 0.05). However, the positive rate of PTEN staining was 30% (15/50), significantly lower than in normal salivary gland tissues (p < 0.05). Pearson analysis showed that FAK expression was positively correlated with ILK expression but negatively correlated with PTEN expression in SACC tissues. FAK and ILK expression was positively associated with advanced stage, solid histological subtype, perineural invasion, and distant metastasis of SACC (p < 0.05). In addition, FAK and ILK expression at both mRNA and protein levels was significantly higher in highly metastatic SACC-LM cells than low-metastatic SACC-83 cells.