Expression and significance of Rac1, Pak1 and Rock1 in gastric carcinoma

Abstract

AimsRac1, Pak1 and Rock1 are indicators related to gastric cancer invasion and metastasis, but few reports discuss all three kinds of protein in research on gastric cancer invasion and metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and clinical significance of Rac1, Pak1 and Rock1 in gastric carcinoma.MethodsRac1, Pak1 and Rock1 expression in 158 cases of gastric carcinoma were investigated via immunohistochemical staining and clinical analysis.ResultsThe positive expression rates of Rac1, Pak1 and Rock1 in normal tissue, intraepithelial neoplastic tissues and gastric carcinoma showed an increasing trend (P < 0.05). Their expression in lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than in patients with lymph-node metastasis than in those without lymph nodes metastasis (P < 0.05). Their expression in tumor (TNM stages III and IV) were significantly higher than that in stages I and II (P < 0.05). Rac1, Pak1 and Rock1 expression did not differ significantly with patients' sex (P > 0.05).ConclusionPositive rates of Rac1, Pak1 and Rock1 expression in normal tissue, dysplasia and gastric carcinoma show an increasing trend and are correlated with tumor lymph node metastasis and TNM stage. Rac1, Pak1 and Rock1 may be important biomarkers of gastric carcinoma invasion and metastasis.

Rac1 is correlated with aggressiveness and a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer

“…Our studies discovered that high Rac1 levels were well correlated with gastric cancer malignancy and predicted poor survival in gastric cancer patients as assessed in clinical specimens. Our findings are consistent with previous studies which suggested a correlation of Rac1 with gastric cancer malignancy (20,21). We also found that Rac1 was highly expressed in intestinal-type gastric cancer and positively correlated with tumor differentiation, local invasion and lymph node metastasis.…”

“…Rac1 regulates a diverse spectrum of cellular functions including tumorigenesis (11), angiogenesis (12,13) and metastasis (11,14,15). Overexpression of Rac1 occurs in several different types of tumors including breast (16,17), colon (18), bladder (19), and gastric cancer (20,21). Rac1 overexpression was observed in metastatic gastric (21), breast (15), prostate (22), bladder upper urinary tract cancer (19).…”

“…Overexpression of Rac1 occurs in several different types of tumors including breast (16,17), colon (18), bladder (19), and gastric cancer (20,21). Rac1 overexpression was observed in metastatic gastric (21), breast (15), prostate (22), bladder upper urinary tract cancer (19). Rac1 promoted prostate cancer progression and recurrence upon activation by VAV3, a GEF for Rac1 activation (14).…”

943 MicroRNA 135a Suppresses Lymph Node Metastasis Through Down-Regulation of ROCK1 in Early Gastric Cancer

“…ROCK1 is a target of several miRNAs in various cancers including miRNA-584 in renal cell carcinoma [39], miRNA-335 in neuroblastoma [40], and miRNA146a in prostate cancer [41]. In gastric cancer, ROCK1 has been positively correlated with LN metastasis and TNM stage [42], and is involved in miRNA-148a-induced suppression of gastric cancer cell migration and invasion [30]. Further, ROCK1 inhibitor promoted apoptosis in gastric cancer cells [29].…”

miR-101 inhibits cell proliferation by targeting Rac1 in papillary thyroid carcinoma

“…According to the in silico analyses, we predicted Rac1 as a direct target, which encodes a small G-protein that is an important member of the Rho family (20). Rac1 is overexpressed in various types of cancer including breast, colon and lung carcinomas (21)(22)(23) and partici pates in all stages of tumor formation (24).…”