Talin-1, Vinculin, and FAK Expressions are Associated With Clinicopathological Behavior in Colorectal Cancer

The dysregulation of cellular adhesion molecules can induce aggressive tumor behavior and malignant progression. Talin-1, vinculin, and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) are focal adhesion molecules whose expression has prognostic significance in various cancers. We evaluated talin-1, vinculin, and FAK expressions and their correlation with clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic significance in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Low talin-1 expression was identified in 170 (54.0%) cases and was significantly correlated with large tumor size, high pT classification, perineural invasion, involved resection margin, high tumor stromal percentage (TSP), low Klintrup-Mäkinen (KM) grade, and low vinculin expression. Low vinculin expression was identified in 157 (49.8%) patients and was significantly associated with high pT classification, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, lymph node metastasis, high TSP, and low KM grade. High FAK expression was identified in 158 (50.1%) cases and significantly correlated with perineural invasion. Patients with low talin-1 and vinculin expressions had significantly worse overall survival than patients with high expressions ( P <0.001 and P =0.041, respectively). High FAK expression was associated with poor overall survival in patients with CRC ( P =0.022). Low talin-1 expression was an independent poor prognostic factor in patients with CRC ( P <0.001). Low talin-1 and vinculin expressions and high FAK expression correlated with aggressive clinicopathological behaviors and poor overall survival in patients with CRC. Low talin-1 expression was identified as an independent poor prognostic factor and may be a useful therapeutic target in patients with CRC.