title: Aromatase mRNA levels in benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Estrogens are suspected to play a role in the pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer. In this study, the expression of aromatase messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) was determined, and these levels were quantitated, in human prostatic tissues to evaluate the role of estrogens in the pathogenesis of BPH and prostate cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prostatic tissues were obtained either by retropubic prostatectomy, radical prostatectomy, or radical cystectomy from patients with BPH, prostate cancer, and bladder cancer. The expression of aromatase mRNA in the prostatic tissues was studied by Southern blot analysis of the reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction technique (RT-PCR) products. Aromatase mRNA levels were measured in human prostatic tissues by the RT-PCR using a fluorescent primer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aromatase mRNA was identified in all specimens by Southern blot analysis of the RT-PCR products. The concentrations of aromatase mRNA (mean +/- SD) which were measured by fluorometric quantitation in 16 of 19 patients with BPH and in 3 of 4 patients with prostate cancer, were 1.81 +/- 3.02, and 0.84 +/- 0.27, x 10(-3) attomoles/micrograms of total RNA, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate local formation of estrogen in the prostates of patients with BPH and prostate cancer. Controlled studies will be necessary to determine whether this may be a factor in the development of BPH and prostate cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Nagoya City University, Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsugaya
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tozawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kohri
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001141:Aromatase / Q000235:genetics*; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D005470:Fluorometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001141:Aromatase