Steroid sulfatase and estrogen sulfotransferase in human prostate cancer.
BACKGROUND
Estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) and steroid sulfatase (STS) are known to be involved in in situ estrogen production in estrogen dependent human cancer such as breast cancer, but unknown in prostate cancer.


METHODS
We first examined whether these enzymes above were expressed and actually involved in estrogen production and metabolism in prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, DU-145, and PC-3). We than examined the expression of EST and STS in human prostate cancer tissues obtained from surgery (n = 52) using immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
mRNAs of both enzymes were detected in all prostate cancer cell lines examined, and the synthesis of estrone (E(1)) and estradiol (E(2)) was also confirmed in these cell lines. In addition, STS immunoreactivity was detected in 44 cases (85%) and EST in 39 cases (75%), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
STS and EST are expressed and may be involved in local production and metabolism of estrogens in human prostate cancers.
Department of Pathology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Yasuhiro
Y
Nakamura
Takashi
T
Suzuki
Tsuyoshi
T
Fukuda
Akihiro
A
Ito
Mareyuki
M
Endo
Takuya
T
Moriya
Yoichi
Y
Arai
Hironobu
H
Sasano
D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004958:Estradiol / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004970:Estrone / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D043266:Steryl-Sulfatase / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015238:Sulfotransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D004970:Estrone; D004958:Estradiol; D015238:Sulfotransferases; C020122:estrone sulfotransferase; D043266:Steryl-Sulfatase