Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) expression correlates with tumor severity in clear cell renal carcinoma.

Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) is an unique intracellular serine/threonine kinase and adapter protein. When dysregulated, it has been associated with increased cell proliferation, anchorage-independent cell growth, evasion of apoptosis, angiogenesis, invasion of surrounding tissues, downregulation of E-cadherin expression, nuclear translocation of β-catenin and metastasis, all features of tumoral malignancy. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the expression of ILK in clear cell renal carcinomas (CCRC) as a possible prognostic indicator.