Purpose: Aurora kinase family plays an important role in mitosis and cell cycle organization. Aurora-A is an important member of the aurora kinase family and its expression increases the genomic instability and contributes to carcinogenesis. In this study, the prognostic role of Aurora-A expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) was assessed.
Methods: Metastatic CRC patients, whose diagnoses were histopathologically confirmed and who were followed up at the Antalya Education and Research Hospital between 2008 and 2010, were included in the study. Aurora-A expression was assessed with immunohistochemistry.
Results: A total of 40 patients were included in the study. Aurora-A expression was determined as positive in 33 (82.5%) patients and as negative in 7 (17.5%). No significant correlation was determined between Aurora-A expression and tumor location, metastatic location and histological subtype (p=0.549, 0.511, and 0.709, respectively). Also, no significant correlation was determined between Aurora-A expression and overall survival (p=0.202). Median survival was 8.7 months (95) confidence interval/CI 6.9-10.4) in patients with negative Aurora-A expression, whereas it was 22.6 months (95% CI 12-33.3) in patients with positive Aurora-A expression (p=0.202).
Conclusion: Despite the lack of statistical significance, we speculate that Aurora-A overexpression may have a positive effect on the survival of patients. With this regard, there is a need for further comprehensive studies examining the relation and effect of Aurora-A expression on survival and response to treatment.