TY - JOUR T1 - Activated Akt Expression has Significant Correlation with EGFR and TGF-α Expressions in Stage I NSCLC JF - Anticancer Research JO - Anticancer Res SP - 11 LP - 18 VL - 24 IS - 1 AU - TORU MUKOHARA AU - SHINZOH KUDOH AU - KUNIOMI MATSUURA AU - SETSUKO YAMAUCHI AU - TATSUO KIMURA AU - NARUO YOSHIMURA AU - HIROSHI KANAZAWA AU - KAZUTO HIRATA AU - KIYOTOSHI INOUE AU - HIDEKI WANIBUCHI AU - SHOJI FUKUSHIMA AU - JUNICHI YOSHIKAWA Y1 - 2004/01/01 UR - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/24/1/11.abstract N2 - Background: In vitro studies have indicated that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) may intensify signaling output by the receptor's overexpression, heterodimerization with HER-2, or autocrine expression of ligands. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the correlation between EGFR and its related proteins and to explore the prognostic value of the proteins. Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemical staining of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α), EGFR, HER-2, and phosphorylated (p-)Akt was performed in specimens surgically excised from 91 consecutive patients with p-stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Expression or coexpression of TGF-α and the receptors were related to expression of p-Akt. The prognostic impact of these peptides was also tested. Results: TGF-α, EGFR and HER-2 overexpressions were detected in 32%, 79% and 13% of tumors, respectively. Coexpressions of TGF-α & EGFR and EGFR & HER-2 were observed in 29% and 11% of tumors, respectively. P-Akt expression was found in 73% of tumors. Significant correlations between EGFR, TGF-α or coexpression of TGF-α & EGFR and p-Akt expression were found (p=0.006, 0.008 and 0.010, respectively). No proteins examined had an impact on relapse-free survival. Conclusion: The Akt pathway is frequently involved in NSCLC and overexpression of EGFR and autocrine expression of TGF-α may increase the potency of Akt activation. ER -