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Updated: Jun 21, 2026
Defining Gene Functions in Tumorigenesis by Ex vivo Ablation of Floxed Alleles in Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Cells
Published on: August 25, 2021
FAK-Src-paxillin system expression and disease outcome in human neuroblastoma
Panagiotis Kratimenos1,2, Ioannis Koutroulis3, Vasiliki Syriopoulou4
1a Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Children's National Medical Center , The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences , Washington, DC , USA.
Background:
Neuroblastoma (NB) often presents with metastatic disease and poor survival. The need for new prognostic markers remains invaluable. The FAK-Src-Paxillin protein system is associated with aggressive phenotype in adult malignancies but is largely unexplored in pediatric NB.
Objective:
To assess FAK-Src-Paxillin protein expression in human NB cell lines and clinical cytology material and to delineate its association with survival.
Design/Methods:
Western blot and immunohistochemistry were applied for FAK-Src-Paxillin expression in NB cell lines and 23 human cytology specimens, respectively. Protein expression in human clinical samples was correlated with clinicopathological parameters, MYCN amplification and survival.
Results:
FAK, Src and Paxillin proteins are expressed in human NB cells lines, and can be detected in clinical cytology specimens from NB patients, (59%, 32% and 33% respectively). Simultaneous FAK-Src-Paxillin expression was noted in 30% of NB patients. Children with concomitant positivity FAK, Src, and Paxillin tumors, as well as MYCN amplification, had increased mortality compared to those without.
Conclusions:
FAK-Src-Paxillin system is a marker of unfavorable prognosis for human NB patients but also a promising therapeutic target.
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