Cellular expression of beta-microseminoprotein (beta-MSP) mRNA and its protein in untreated prostate cancer.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have shown that beta-microseminoprotein (beta-MSP) may be used as a diagnostic marker for prostate cancer. However, the level of expression of beta-MSP in prostate cancer detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) has varied from one study to another.


METHODS
We analyzed the expression of both beta-MSP mRNA and its protein in a large sample of prostate tumors from 104 patients with untreated prostate cancer, using both nonradioactive in situ hybridization (ISH) and IHC.


RESULTS
Our results showed that 72 and 96 of 104 specimens were negative for beta-MSP mRNA (69.2%) and beta-MSP (92.3%), respectively. Furthermore, a reduced expression of both beta-MSP mRNA and its protein was detected in all malignant epithelial tissues compared with benign epithelia. Not all malignant tissue samples negative for beta-MSP mRNA were negative for beta-MSP (6.7%), and vice versa (29.8%). Other tissue samples were either negative for both (62.5%) or positive for both (1.0%).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results showed a lower level of expression of beta-MSP in prostate cancer tissue, compared with benign prostate tissue. This phenomenon may be mainly due to the presence of reduced levels of beta-MSP mRNA.
Tsurusaki
T
T
Department of Urology, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Sakamoto, Japan. ttsuru-ngs@umin.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Koji
T
T
Sakai
H
H
Kanetake
H
H
Nakane
P K
PK
Saito
Y
Y
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D029584:Prostatic Secretory Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis
D010455:Peptides; D029584:Prostatic Secretory Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; C043076:beta-microseminoprotein