Expression of focal adhesion kinase in the eutopic endometrium of women with adenomyosis varies with dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain.

The aim of the present study was to examine whether the expression of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is altered in the eutopic endometrium of female patients with adenomyosis, as compared with that of females without adenomyosis. The expression of FAK was assessed by immunohistochemical, western blot and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses. An elevated expression of FAK mRNA and protein was identified in the eutopic endometrium of patients with adenomyosis compared with patients without adenomyosis (P<0.05). In addition, a positive correlation was detected between FAK protein expression and dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain in females with adenomyosis (P<0.05). The significant increase of FAK expression identified in the eutopic endometrium of females with adenomyosis, as well as the association of FAK protein expression with dysmenorrhea and pelvic pain, suggested that FAK may play a role in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis.