Expression of MUC1 and sialyl-Tn in benign prostatic glands, high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia and malignant prostatic glands: a preliminary study.
OBJECTIVE
To postulate a possible role of MUC1 and sialylated mucins (sTn) in prostate malignancy.


METHODS
One sample histologic paraffin block of 24 radical prostatectomies was selected for presence of both benign and malignant glands; 17 samples also included PIN. Serial cuts were stained with MUC1 and sTn mouse monoclonal antibodies. Description and percentage of cell expression for MUC1 and sTn antibodies were obtained by light microscopy.


RESULTS
MUC1 immunostaining was more often positive for neoplastic cells, progressively from benign (4.7+/-5.3%) to PIN (27.1+/-19.7%) and malignant glands (34.5+/-28.4%). The same observation was made for sTn, respectively, from 3.9+/-4.9% to 54.8+/-26.1% and 62.8+/-25.6%. Both antibodies showed a statistical difference between benign glands and PIN or malignant glands but not between PIN and malignant.


CONCLUSIONS
MUC1 and sTn were expressed more intensely in PIN and malignant prostate glands than in benign glands. sTn seemed more specific in favor of cell malignancy.
Department of Pathology, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium. christian.garbar@uzbrussel.be
Christian
C
Garbar
Corinne
C
Mascaux
Eric
E
Wespes
D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism; D019048:Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D052116:Sialomucins / Q000378:metabolism*
C060192:MUC1 protein, human; D018396:Mucin-1; D052116:Sialomucins