Actinin-4

Actinin occurs in several isoforms. There are two non-muscle a-actinins. Actinin-1 is present on the inner surface of cells in association with integrin-b and a-catenin, forming a component of focal adhesion plaques. Actinin-4, also a non-muscle a-actinin, is concentrated at the leading edge of motile cells and of motile structures such as cell surface ruffles. In neoplastic cells, enhanced actinin-4 expression is associated with invasive behaviour. Actinin-4 may become dissociated from the cytoplasmic actin cytoskeleton and translocate to the nucleus.

Immunohistochemical expression

Increased expression is associated with :

 

 Reference 1

Cytoplasmic and membrane expression of Actinin-4

p-value

  

High

Low

FIGO stage

I

37

48

0.036

II

15

17

III

60

51

IV

25

12

Histological subtype

serous

72

44

0.0075

clear cell

35

36

endometrioid

14

29

mucinous

16

19

Histological grade

1 or 2

92

112

<0.0001

3

45

16

Residual tumour

none

47

60

0.0047

< 2 cm

30

37

>= 2 cm

56

29

Lymph node metastases

present

18

22

0.95

absent

47

56

Response to chemotherapy

complete or partial

26

16

0.54

stable or progressive disease

24

11

Recurrence

Yes

11

8

0.0043

No

36

52
         

Diagnostic utility

References

1 Yamamoto S, Tsuda H, Honda K, et al. Actinin-4 expression in ovarian cancer: a novel prognostic indicator independent of clinical stage and histological type. Mod Pathol 2007; 20:1278-85

This page last revised 6.4.2008.

©SMUHT/PW Bishop