title: Aurora-A over-expression in high-grade PIN lesions and prostate cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over-expression of Aurora-A (Aurora 2 kinase, STK-15), a protein found in centrosomes thought to be associated with genetic instability, has been previously documented in prostate cancer [Pihan et al.: Cancer Res 61(5):2212-2219, 2001]. It is unknown if this protein is also over-expressed in high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  PIN lesions were examined for increased Aurora-A using immunohistochemical staining on archival paraffin embedded prostatectomy tissue. Aurora-A expression was scored using size, number, and staining intensity. Protein expression was examined and compared between stromal cells, normal glands, high-grade PIN lesions, and invasive cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunohistochemistry shows an increased expression of Aurora-A in 96% of high-grade PIN cases, and 98% in cancer lesions. Twenty-nine percent of cases of normal glands from cancerous prostates also showed increased Aurora-A expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Over-expression of Aurora-A is present in some normal and the majority of high-grade PIN lesions indicating that this may be an early event that leads to the genetic instability seen in prostate carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, USA. holly@email.arizona.edu
authors.forename: Holly McKlveen
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Buschhorn
authors.forename: Robert R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: Margaret C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: Sylvan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bearss
authors.forename: Raymond B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Nagle
mesh_terms: D064127:Aurora Kinases; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D019048:Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D029867:Xenopus Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D011494:Protein Kinases; C112134:AURKA protein, Xenopus; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases