Expression and significance of Rac1, Pak1 and Rock1 in gastric carcinoma2

AIMS: Rac1, 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. METHODS: Rac1, Pak1 and Rock1 expression in 158 cases of gastric carcinoma were investigated via immunohistochemical staining and clinical analysis. RESULTS: The 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). CONCLUSION: Positive 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.