Correlation of focal adhesion kinase expression with nodal metastasis in patients with head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Background Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and cortactin overexpression is frequently detected in a variety of cancers, and has been associated with poor clinical outcome. However, there are no data in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). Objective To investigate the relationship of FAK and cortactin expression with the clinicopathologic features and the impact on the prognosis of cSCC patients. Methods FAK and cortactin expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 100 patients with cSCC, and correlated with the clinical data. Results FAK overexpression was a significant risk factor for nodal metastasis with crude and adjusted ratios (HRs) of 2.04, (95% CI [1.08-3.86], [P = 0.029]) and 2.23 (95% CI [1.01-4.91], [P = 0.047]), respectively. Cortactin expression was not a significant risk factor for nodal metastasis. Conclusion These findings demonstrate that FAK overexpression is an independent predictor of nodal metastasis that might be helpful for risk stratification and management of patients with cSCC.