Abstract
BackgroundRecently, the number of reports on focal adhesion kinase (FAK) as a vital therapeutic target in solid carcinomas has increased; however, the prognostic role of FAK status remains poorly understood. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic effect of FAK by means of a meta-analysis.MethodsWe performed a systematic literature search in order to examine the correlation between expression of FAK and overall survival(OS). The hazard ratio (HR) of OS was used to measure survival. A random-effects model was used to pool study statistics. Sensitivity and publication bias analyses were also conducted.ResultsThirty eligible studies involving 4702 patients were included. The median expression rate of FAK was 54%. Meta-analysis of the HRs demonstrated that high FAK expression was associated with worse OS (average HR = 2.073, 95%confidence interval[CI]:1.712–2.510, p = 0.000). Regarding cancer type, FAK was associated with worse OS in gastric cancer (HR = 2.646,95% CI:1.743–4.017, p = 0.000), hepatocellular carcinoma (HR = 1.788,95% CI:1.228–2.602, p = 0.002), ovarian cancer (HR = 1.815, 95% CI: 1.193–2.762, p = 0.005), endometrial cancer (HR = 4.149, 95% CI:2.832–6.079, p = 0.000), gliomas (HR = 2.650, 95% CI: 1.205–5.829, p = 0.015), and squamous cell carcinoma (HR = 1,696, 95% CI: 1.030–2.793, p = 0.038). No association was found between HR and disease staging according to our meta-regression analysis.ConclusionsOur study shows that high expression of FAK is associated with a worse OS in patients with carcinomas, but the association between FAK and prognosis varies according to cancer type. The value of FAK status in clinical prognosis in cancer needs further research.
Highlights
Prognostic studies of cancer biomarkers are valuable, and allow a more accurate prediction of treatment response and prognosis, leading to a favorable therapeutic outcome
Meta-analysis of the hazard ratio (HR) demonstrated that high Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression was associated with worse overall survival (OS)
FAK was associated with worse OS in gastric cancer (HR = 2.646,95% CI:1.743–4.017, p = 0.000), hepatocellular carcinoma (HR = 1.788,95% CI:1.228–2.602, p = 0.002), ovarian cancer (HR = 1.815, 95% CI: 1.193–2.762, p = 0.005), endometrial cancer (HR = 4.149, 95% CI:2.832–6.079, p = 0.000), gliomas (HR = 2.650, 95% CI: 1.205–5.829, p = 0.015), and squamous cell carcinoma (HR = 1,696, 95% CI: 1.030–2.793, p = 0.038)
Summary
Prognostic studies of cancer biomarkers are valuable, and allow a more accurate prediction of treatment response and prognosis, leading to a favorable therapeutic outcome. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), an intracellular tyrosine kinase recruited to sites of integrin clustering or focal adhesions, is a multi-functional regulator of cell signaling within the tumor microenvironment [1,2,3]. FAK functions as a major mediator of signal transduction by cell surface receptors including integrins, growth factor, and cytokine receptors [1]. Dysregulation of FAK leads to the development of malignancies, including initiation of invasion, metastasis and neoangiogenesis [5,6,7]. These functional characteristics suggest that FAK may be involved in promoting tumorigenesis and metastasis. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic effect of FAK by means of a meta-analysis
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