Loss of expression of transforming growth factor-beta receptors is associated with poor prognosis in prostate cancer patients.
Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is a potent inhibitor of proliferation in most cells and exerts its effects through an interaction with membrane receptors type I (TGF-betaRI) and type II (TGF-betaRII). Recently, we have demonstrated a correlation between the loss of expression of TGF-betaRI and TGF-betaRII and increasing Gleason score in archival human prostate cancer tissues. To evaluate the potential prognostic value of this observation, the present study investigated the expression of TGF-beta receptors in association with disease progression after the initial diagnosis in 52 archival human prostate cancer tissues. The expression of both TGF-betaRI and TGF-betaRII was correlated with the Gleason score, clinical tumor stage, 4-year survival rate, and serological recurrence rate after radical prostatectomy. Results revealed that there was a significant association between the Gleason score and the loss of expression of TGF-betaRI (P < 0.025) and TGF-betaRII (P < 0.01). However, only the loss of TGF-betaRI expression showed a statistically significant association with the clinical tumor stage (P < 0.05), 4-year survival rate (P < 0.05), and serological recurrence rate after radical prostatectomy (P < 0.025). Therefore, these data indicate that the loss of TGF-betaRI expression as measured by immunohistochemical staining may be a potential prognostic marker in prostate cancer patients.
Department of Urology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
I Y
IY
Kim
H J
HJ
Ahn
S
S
Lang
M G
MG
Oefelein
R
R
Oyasu
J M
JM
Kozlowski
C
C
Lee
D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D015996:Survival Rate
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta