Tenascin-C expression in prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN): a marker of progression?
BACKGROUND
Tenascin (tenascin-C) has been suggested to be associated with active epithelial-stromal interactions. We evaluated tenascin expression in tissue remodelling processes presumably associated with PIN and prostate carcinoma (PCa).


METHODS
Tenascin immunoreactivity was evaluated in 38 PIN lesions (low-grade = 5, high-grade = 33) from 27 paraffin-embedded PCa specimens, and compared with expression in pre-existent (normal) prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and PCa.


RESULTS
Periepithelial stromal tenascin expression was low in low-grade PIN, and similar to normal glands and BPH, whereas expression in high-grade PIN was high and partly overlapped that of well-/moderately differentiated PCa. High-grade PCa usually expressed little, if any tenascin.


CONCLUSIONS
The variable periglandular tenascin expression in high-grade PIN may reflect the biologic behaviour of this lesion, and may be indicative of variable levels of tissue remodelling. In well/moderately differentiated PCa tenascin expression levels may be an indicator of tumour progression.
Department of Urology, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Y
Y
Xue
F
F
Smedts
M A
MA
Latijnhouwers
E T
ET
Ruijter
T W
TW
Aalders
J J
JJ
de la Rosette
F M
FM
Debruyne
J A
JA
Schalken
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019063:Tenascin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019063:Tenascin