Aberrant expression of DeltaNp73 in benign and malignant tumours of the prostate: correlation with Gleason score.
BACKGROUND
The p73 gene is a p53 homologue that induces apoptosis and inhibits cell proliferation. N-terminal truncated isoforms of p73 (DeltaNp73) act as dominant-negative inhibitors of wild-type p53 and TAp73 and result in tumour growth in nude mice.


OBJECTIVE
To detect DeltaNp73 expression in 24 benign prostatic hyperplasia samples, 33 prostate carcinomas, and five normal samples and to evaluate the relation between DeltaNp73, TAp73 concentrations, and the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with prostate cancer.


METHODS
TAp73 was determined by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR); DeltaNp73 and DeltaN'p73 were assessed using reverse transcription PCR. western blotting was used to analyse protein expression. p53 mutation was determined by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
A significant increase of DeltaNp73 was seen in 20 of 33 carcinomas and 17 of 24 benign prostate hyperplasia tissues, but in none of the normal samples. None of the specimens expressed DeltaN'p73. No significant relation was found between TAp73 expression and clinical parameters. The incidence of positive expression of DeltaNp73 correlated with the Gleason score in prostate carcinomas. Cancer samples with wild-type p53 had significantly higher expression of DeltaNp73 than p53 mutant cancers.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest a potential role for DeltaNp73 in prostate cancer progression.
Guan
M
M
Centre of Laboratory Medicine, Hua Shan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, PR China. ming_guan88@yahoo.com
Chen
Y
Y
D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins