The assessment of PTEN tumor suppressor gene in combination with Gleason scoring and serum PSA to evaluate progression of prostate carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to determine if the tumor suppressor gene phosphate and tensin homolog (PTEN) (mutated in multiple advanced cancers 1) in combination with Gleason scoring and serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) could be employed to better predict the progression of prostate carcinoma.


METHODS
The study group consisted of 43 patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), 15 with organ confined prostate carcinoma (OCPCa), and 18 with advanced prostate carcinoma (APCa). Prostate tissue samples were obtained from radical prostatectomy, transurethral resection, and TRUS guided trans-rectal needle biopsy and then evaluated for biomarker expression. The clinical stage was assessed according to tumor node metastasis classification and grade according to Gleason system. Serum PSA was measured by conventional techniques and Western blotting analysis was used to determine PTEN expression in the primary tissue. Multivariate analysis was performed to analyze whether these markers could individually predict the progression of prostate carcinoma.


RESULTS
APCa patients displayed higher Gleason scores and serum PSA levels. But much lower PTEN expression was detected in prostate of APCa patients compared to patients with BPH or OCPCa. Hormone refractory (HR) and hormone sensitive (HS) APCa cases did not yield any significant differences in terms of Gleason scoring, serum PSA and PTEN expression. PSA levels were significantly higher in patients with OCPCa or APCa compared to patients with BPH.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggested that both PTEN and serum PSA appeared to be useful as independent markers to depict the nature of tumor behavior as benign or malign. In addition, PTEN also appeared to be useful as an independent marker to predict the progression of prostate carcinoma.
The Human Gene Therapy Unit, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Antalya 07070, Turkey.
Ismail Turker
IT
Koksal
Ercument
E
Dirice
Duygu
D
Yasar
Ahter D
AD
Sanlioglu
Akif
A
Ciftcioglu
Kemal H
KH
Gulkesen
Nidai O
NO
Ozes
Mehmet
M
Baykara
Guven
G
Luleci
Salih
S
Sanlioglu
D015153:Blotting, Western; D018450:Disease Progression; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods*; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C494929:PTEN protein, human; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen