Topoisomerase II-alpha expression increases with increasing Gleason score and with hormone insensitivity in prostate carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate and compare topoisomerase II-alpha expression in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostate cancer of varying Gleason scores and hormone-insensitive prostate cancer.


METHODS
The immunohistochemical expression of topoisomerase II-alpha antibody in the above-mentioned diagnostic categories was investigated and compared.


RESULTS
Increased expression of topoisomerase II-alpha was seen in the prostate cancers of Gleason scores 7 and 8-10 (p = 0.000) compared with prostate cancers of Gleason score 6 and BPH (p = 0.245). Statistically significant differences were found in the topoisomerase II-alpha gene expression between prostate cancers categorised by Gleason Score. Also, increased expression of topoisomerase II-alpha was seen in the known hormone-resistant prostate carcinomas compared with prostate cancers with no hormone treatment in the subgroup with Gleason scores 8-10, which approached statistical significance (p = 0.081). No statistically significant difference was observed in topoisomerase II-alpha expression between the groups with BPH and prostate carcinoma of Gleason score 6 (p = 0.245).


CONCLUSIONS
Topoisomerase II-alpha expression was found to increase with the known prognostic marker Gleason score and with hormone insensitivity. Objective evidence is provided for clinical trials with drugs targeting topoisomerase II-alpha to be targeted to patients with prostate cancers of Gleason Score >6 and, in particular, prostate cancers of Gleason Scores 8-10.
Histopathology Department, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK. caroline.hughes@orh.nhs.uk
C
C
Hughes
A
A
Murphy
C
C
Martin
E
E
Fox
M
M
Ring
O
O
Sheils
B
B
Loftus
J
J
O'Leary
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000201:enzymology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007527:Isoenzymes; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II