<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of
protein kinase B (PKB) in
human-
squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and
adenocarcinoma of lung (ADC) and in benign
lung tissues (BD,
lung tissues adjacent to
cancer or from
patients with benign
lung diseases), and its
association to clinicopathological characteristics.</p><p><b>
METHODS</b>The PKB expression in 41 specimens from
patients with SCC (26 cases) and ADC (15 cases) and in 12 specimens from
patients with benign
lung diseases (BD) were investigated by
immunohistochemistry and
Western blot analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>PKB in benign
lung tissues was usually weakly stained and scattered in distribution. It was remarkably increased in
lung cancer compared to benign
lung tissue. The positive rates of PKB in SCC and ADC were 50% (13/26), 60% (9/15), respectively, and there was no significant difference between them. PKB expression was significantly stronger in
lung cancer patients in advanced stages (stage III or IV) or with poor differentiation, than those in early stages (stage I or II) or with moderate or well differentiation. The expression was stronger in
patients with local
lymph node metastasis than those without (P = 0.0391).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PKB
protein is over-expressed in
human squamous-
cell carcinoma and
adenocarcinoma of lung.</p>