Overexpression of chromatin assembly factor-1 (CAF-1) p60 is predictive of adverse behaviour of prostatic cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Prostatic cancer may remain organ-confined indefinitely; in a number of patients, however it gives rise to clinical symptoms and death. The biological behaviour of this tumour mostly remains difficult to predict. A promising tool for diagnosis and prognosis of some human tumours is the chromatin assembly factor-1 (CAF-1), involved in the control of higher order chromatin organization. The aim was to explore the role of CAF-1/p60 protein as a new prognostic marker for prostatic cancer.


RESULTS
The expression of CAF-1/p60 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting in a selected series of prostatic cancers and in prostatic cancer cell lines. Results were compared with clinicopathological data and outcome of patients. CAF-1/p60 was expressed in all cases, with a linear increase from low-grade tumours (Gleason score <7) to high-grade prostatic cancers (Gleason score >7). By comparing results with follow-up data, a significant association between overexpression of CAF-1/p60 and unfavourable behaviour of prostatic cancer emerged, and its predictive value was independent of classical prognostic factors.


CONCLUSIONS
In our series of cases, overexpression of CAF-1/p60 characterized prostatic cancers with a worse prognosis. CAF-1/p60 has a potential role as a new reliable prognostic biomarker for prostatic cancer.
Staibano
Stefania
S
Department of Biomorphological and Functional Sciences, Pathology Section, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. staibano@unina.it
Mascolo
Massimo
M
Mancini
Francesco Paolo
FP
Kisslinger
Annamaria
A
Salvatore
Gaetano
G
Di Benedetto
Maria
M
Chieffi
Paolo
P
Altieri
Vincenzo
V
Prezioso
Domenico
D
Ilardi
Gennaro
G
De Rosa
Gaetano
G
Tramontano
Donatella
D
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D056504:Chromatin Assembly Factor-1; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C533593:CHAF1B protein, human; D056504:Chromatin Assembly Factor-1; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins