Angiopoietin 2 expression is related to histological grade, vascular density, metastases, and outcome in prostate cancer.
BACKGROUND
In several malignant tissues, the angiopoietins are principal regulators of vascular growth and regression, but in normal prostate and prostate tumors the role of the angiopoietins is unknown.


METHODS
Angiopoietin (ang) 1 and 2 were immunolocalized in TUR-diagnosed prostate tumors with long follow-up and the expression was related to vascular density and clinicopathological variables.


RESULTS
Ang 1 was strongly expressed in the basal epithelial cell layer in non-malignant tissue, whereas tumors had lower levels localized to the epithelial cells. A weak ang 2 immunoreaction was observed in non-malignant tissue and in low to intermediate Gleason score (GS) tumors, with a similar expression pattern. However, most high GS tumors showed an intense ang 2 staining. Ang 2 was significantly correlated to GS, density of endoglin stained blood vessels, metastases, and to cancer specific survival.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that ang 2 probably is an important regulator of angiogenesis in prostate cancer.
Lind
Anna J
AJ
Departments of Medical Biosciences and Pathology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Wikström
Pernilla
P
Granfors
Torvald
T
Egevad
Lars
L
Stattin
Pär
P
Bergh
Anders
A
D000368:Aged; D042683:Angiopoietin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D042702:Angiopoietin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011379:Prognosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*
C467630:ANGPT1 protein, human; D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D042702:Angiopoietin-2