Association between integrin expression and prognosis in localized prostate cancer.
BACKGROUND
Integrins and other adhesion molecules are essential for maintaining the epithelial phenotype. Some studies have reported correlations between abnormalities in their expression and carcinogenesis, but their role in prostate cancer is unclear. Our aim was to study the expression profile of integrins in surgical specimens of prostate cancer and associate their expression patterns with patient outcomes.


METHODS
We selected 111 patients with localized prostate cancer who had undergone radical prostatectomy. Of these patients, 60 had no tumor recurrence after a median follow-up of 123 months. Integrin expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in a tissue microarray containing two tumor samples per patient. A semiquantitative analysis was employed. We measured the association between the expression of eight integrins and tumor recurrence.


RESULTS
Multivariate analysis showed that expression of alpha3 and alpha3beta1 was related to worse outcome. When alpha3 expression was strong and alpha3beta1 expression was positive, the odds of recurrence were 3.0- and 2.5-fold higher, respectively. Only 19% and 28% of patients were recurrence-free in a mean period of 123 months of follow up when their tumors showed strong alpha3 or positive alpha3beta1 immuno-expression, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
We have shown that the expression of integrin alpha3beta1 was independently associated with tumor recurrence after radical prostatectomy, suggesting that this integrin is a potential prognostic marker.
Pontes-Júnior
José
J
Laboratory of Medical Investigation (LIM55), Urology Department, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil. docjpjr@uol.com.br
Reis
Sabrina Thalita
ST
de Oliveira
Luis Carlos Neves
LC
Sant'anna
Alexandre C
AC
Dall'oglio
Marcos Francisco
MF
Antunes
Alberto Azoubel
AA
Ribeiro-Filho
Leopoldo Alves
LA
Carvalho
Paulo Afonso
PA
Cury
Jose
J
Srougi
Miguel
M
Leite
Kátia Ramos Moreira
KR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016023:Integrins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016023:Integrins