AMP-activated protein kinase α1 serves a carcinogenic role via regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor expression in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

AMP-activated protein kinase α1 (AMPK α1) is involved in the tumorigenesis of various cancer types. However, the role of AMPK a1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. In the present study, 99 NSCLC tumor tissues and paired normal tissues were obtained. The expression levels of AMPK a1 were significantly upregulated in NSCLC tumor tissues compared with those in adjacent non-tumor lung tissues. The patients were further divided into two groups according to their expression levels of AMPK a1 in tumor tissues. The results outlined that overexpression of AMPK a1 was associated with poor prognosis. In addition, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression levels were associated with malignant progression in patients with NSCLC. Patients with NSCLC that overexpressed AMPK a1 and VEGF had the worst outcomes. Moreover, AMPK a1 may positively regulate VEGF expression. These results suggest that AMPK a1 serves a carcinogenic role at least in part through the regulation of VEGF expression, and thus represents a potential treatment target in patients with NSCLC.