Journal of Gastrointestinal & Digestive System
Open Access

Abstract

Background & Aim: Aurora kinase A is a member of the serine/threonine kinase family and plays important roles in mitosis and chromosome stability. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of Aurora kinase A expression in colorectal cancer patients in Korea. Methods: Aurora kinase A protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 151 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma using tissue microarray blocks. We then analyzed the relationship between clinicopathological characteristics and Aurora kinase A expression. In addition, we assessed the prognostic significance of various clinicopathological data for progression-free survival. Results: Aurora kinase A expression was detected in 45% (68/151) of the cases. Positive staining for Aurora kinase A was observed more often in male patients (P=0.035) and distally located tumors (P=0.021) progression-free survival was shorter in patients with Aurora kinase A expression compared to those with low-level Aurora kinase A expression (P<0.001). Univariate analysis revealed that Aurora kinase A expression (P=0.001), age (P=0.034), lymphatic invasion (P=0.001), perineural invasion (P=0.002), and TNM stage (P=0.013) significantly affected progression-free survival. In a multivariate analysis of progressionfree survival, a Cox proportional hazard model confirmed that Aurora kinase A expression was an independent and significant prognostic factor in colorectal adenocarcinoma (hazard ratio, 3.944; P<0.001). Conclusions: Thus, Aurora kinase A could serve as an independent factor to predict a poor prognosis in Korean colorectal cancer patients.

Biography

Email: hyunminkoh@hotmail.com