RESUMO
Objective To investigate the role of p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) in colorectal mucosal carcinogenesis and the relationship between PAK1 expression and biological behavior of colorectal carcinoma. Method PAK1 was detected with immunohistochemical method in 10 normal colorectal mucosas,40 colorectal villous or tubular adenomas and 60 colorectal carcinomas. Results The positive rate for PAK1 was 10.0% in normal colorectal mucesas,and 25.0%, 33.3% and 33.3% in slight, moderate and severe dys-plastic adenomas, respectively, 65.0% was found in colorectul carcinomas. The positive rate for PAK1 in col-orectal carcinomas was higher than that in normal colorectal mucosas(P<0.01), colorectal villous or tubular adenomas(P<0.01), slight dysplastic adenomas(P<0.01) and moderate dysplastic adenomas (P<0.05).The positive rate for PAK1 of poor differentiated colorectal carcinomas was higher than that of high differentiated ones (P<0.05), and the positive rate for PAK1 of patients with lymph node metastasis was higher than that of patients without lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). In clinical stages, the positive rate for PAK1 in Dukes C and D stages patients was higher than that in Dukes A stage patients, respectively (P<0.05). Conclusion PAK1 maybe play some role in the process of carcinogenesis of colorectal mucesa, and be used as an useful marker for assessment of the biological behavior and prognosis of colorectal carcinoma.