NM23 gene expression in human prostatic carcinomas and benign prostatic hyperplasias: altered expression in combined androgen blockaded carcinomas.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether NM23 (nm23-H1, nm23-H2), a metastasis suppressor gene family, is a molecular marker indicative of metastatic potential of localized carcinoma of the prostate (CaP). Previously, we found decreased nm23-H2 expression correlated with an increase in stage, and here we have expanded the cohort.


METHODS
Eighty prostate tissue samples from patients with CaP and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were examined by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for NM23 gene expression. Samples were grouped according to stage, grade and whether the patient received combined androgen blockade (CAB) prior to surgery.


RESULTS
We could not confirm our initial results of an inverse correlation of nm23-H2 expression levels with grade. However, two significant results were found after CAB: 1) nm23-H1 expression was reduced (p = 0.003), and 2) nm23-H2 expression across stage and grade was uniformly higher (p = 0.003) than in untreated samples.


CONCLUSIONS
NM23 appears not to be a useful molecular marker of metastatic potential in CaP. The altered gene expression after CAB may relate to a cancer cell subpopulation insensitive to apoptosis induced by hormone withdrawal.
Borchers
H
H
Department of Urology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento 95817, USA.
Meyers
F J
FJ
Gumerlock
P H
PH
Stewart
S L
SL
deVere White
R W
RW
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008297:Male; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins; D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000235:genetics; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000235:genetics*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; C517938:NME1 protein, human; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins