Objective: 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.
Methods: 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.
Results: 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).
Conclusion: PKB protein is over-expressed in human squamous-cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of lung.