title: Basic fibroblast growth factor levels in cancer cells and in sera of patients suffering from proliferative disorders of the prostate.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Both benign and malignant growth of the prostate depend on the induction of a microvasculature. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), a potent angiogenic factor, is thought to play an important role in this process.
  
  
  METHODS
  bFGF expression in prostatic carcinoma was assessed by ELISA, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DU-145 and PC-3 tumor cells produced bFGF. Almost 80-90% of it was localized in the cytoplasm, and 10-20% was associated with extracellular matrix components. Immunohistochemical analysis of prostatic tissue sections showed that cancer cells stained more intensively as compared to putatively healthy epithelium. In prostate cancer patients, mean bFGF serum levels were significantly elevated when compared to a healthy control group (6.64 pg/ml vs. 1.28 pg/ml). Serum bFGF levels did not correlate with any other clinical marker such as PSA, tumor stage, or grade. Four out of five patients who progressed to a more advanced stage showed an increase in serum bFGF levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that increased bFGF release may be associated with a more aggressive tumor phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Cronauer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hittmair
authors.forename: I E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Eder
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hobisch
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Culig
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramoner
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bartsch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reissigl
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Radmayr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thurnher
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Klocker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2