Membrane testosterone binding sites in prostate carcinoma as a potential new marker and therapeutic target: study in paraffin tissue sections.
BACKGROUND
Steroid action is mediated, in addition to classical intracellular receptors, by recently identified membrane sites, that generate rapid non-genomic effects. We have recently identified a membrane androgen receptor site on prostate carcinoma cells, mediating testosterone rapid effects on the cytoskeleton and secretion within minutes.


METHODS
The aim of this study was to investigate whether membrane androgen receptors are differentially expressed in prostate carcinomas, and their relationship to the tumor grade. We examined the expression of membrane androgen receptors in archival material of 109 prostate carcinomas and 103 benign prostate hyperplasias, using fluorescein-labeled BSA-coupled testosterone.


RESULTS
We report that membrane androgen receptors are preferentially expressed in prostate carcinomas, and they correlate to their grade using the Gleason's microscopic grading score system.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that membrane androgen receptors may represent an index of tumor aggressiveness and possibly specific targets for new therapeutic regimens.
Dambaki
Constantina
C
Department of Pathology, University of Crete, School of Medicine, Heraklion, Greece.
Kogia
Christina
C
Kampa
Marilena
M
Darivianaki
Katherine
K
Nomikos
Michael
M
Anezinis
Ploutarchos
P
Theodoropoulos
Panayiotis A
PA
Castanas
Elias
E
Stathopoulos
Efstathios N
EN
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001665:Binding Sites; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D019793:Fluorescein / Q000494:pharmacology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010232:Paraffin; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013256:Steroids / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013256:Steroids; D010232:Paraffin; D019793:Fluorescein