An analysis of microvessel density, androgen receptor, p53 and HER-2/neu expression and Gleason score in prostate cancer . preliminary results and therapeutic implications.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate relationships between microvessel density (MVD), androgen receptors (AR), mutant p53 and HER-2/neu expression and Gleason score (GS) to further understand the tumor biology of prostate cancer (CAP).


METHODS
Slides of CAP from patients who underwent radical prostatectomy or channel transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) were tested for androgen receptors by immunocytochemical assay and MVD was analyzed by staining with antibodies to the endothelial cell membrane molecule PECAM-1/CD-31. The p53 monoclonal antibody D07 and HER-2 9G6 mouse monoclonal antibody were used to assess p53 and HER-2/neu expression, respectively. The results were correlated with GS and clinical stage by multivariate analysis.


RESULTS
We found a fourfold greater expression of MVD in prostate cancer specimens compared to neighboring normal prostate tissue. We observed a greater concentration of MVD in the higher Gleason scores (r = 0.40, p = 0. 06), and a correlation of Gleason score with mutant p53 expression (r = 0.57, p <0.05). We did not observe any associations between AR or HER-2/neu to Gleason score. More than half of the patients with specimens with 50% or greater expression of mutant p53 were in stage D2 (T4NxM1b) at the time of biopsy.


CONCLUSIONS
We observed a correlation between mutant p53 and GS, and a greater concentration of MVD in the higher GS. Since the neovascularity of prostate tumors can be attenuated by radiation and hormones, while mutant p53 may confer resistance to such treatment, it appears that p53 expression may also play an important role in addition to angiogenesis in the virulence of prostate cancer. These data may aid in allocating patients to different treatment modalities.
Mydlo
J H
JH
Departments of Urology, Surgery, and Pathology, State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, N.Y., USA.
Kral
J G
JG
Volpe
M
M
Axotis
C
C
Macchia
R J
RJ
Pertschuk
L P
LP
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016158:Genes, p53; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011467:Prostate / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis*; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000032:analysis*; D012016:Reference Values
D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011944:Receptors, Androgen