Deletion of Y-chromosome specific genes in human prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The present study is based on the hypothesis that deletion of Y-chromosome-specific genes is associated with prostate cancer. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the deletion of six Y-chromosome-specific genes in prostate cancer samples.


METHODS
Fifty human prostate cancer specimens were processed for microdissection of pure epithelial cells. DNA was extracted from these cells and amplified using PCR and analyzed for loss of six different Y-chromosome-specific genes (SRY, ZFY, BPY1, SMCY, RBM1 and BPY2). We used D8S262 primer (chromosome 8p23) for internal control to assess the quality and loading of DNA for each sample.


RESULTS
Deletion was observed in most of the prostate cancer specimens with at least one Y-chromosome-specific gene. The loss of SRY gene (Yp11.32) was shown in 38% of cases whereas the other genes show 18% loss in ZFY (Yp11.31), 14% in BPY1 (Yq11.2), 52% in SMCY (Yq11.22), 32% in RBM1 (Yq11.23) and 42% in BPY2 (Yq12.1). The loss of most genes analyzed is seen more frequent in advanced stages and grades of prostate cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
There was a significant loss of Y-chromosome-specific genes in prostate cancer. The loss of SRY and BPY2 genes was more frequent in higher stages and grades of prostate cancer. This is the first report to demonstrate that the loss of Y-chromosome-specific genes is associated with prostate cancer, suggesting their role in pathogenesis of this disease.
Perinchery
G
G
Department of Urology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and University of California San Francisco, 94121, USA.
Sasaki
M
M
Angan
A
A
Kumar
V
V
Carroll
P
P
Dahiya
R
R
D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D014998:Y Chromosome / Q000235:genetics*
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm