title: A predictive role for noncancerous prostate cells: low connexin-26 expression in radical prostatectomy tissues predicts metastasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is important to identify markers that predict whether prostate cancer will metastasise. The adjacent noncancerous cells (influenced by the tumour cells) may also express potential markers. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of cancer cells on noncancerous cells and to assess the value of the cell-communication protein connexin-26 (Cx26) as a marker to predict the development of metastasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of conditioned medium (CM) from PrCa cells on in vitro noncancerous cell proliferation, migration and invasion and Cx26 expression was determined. Connexin-26 expression was investigated in prostatectomy tissues from 51 PrCa patients by immunohistochemistry and compared with various clinicopathological parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Proliferation, migration and invasion of noncancerous cells were influenced by CM from the PrCa cell lines. Importantly, a clear relation was found between low Cx26 expression in the noncancerous tissue in prostatectomy sections and the risk of development of metastasis (P<0.0002). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a relation between low Cx26 expression in noncancerous tissues and time to biochemical recurrence (P=0.0002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measuring Cx26 expression in the adjacent noncancerous tissues (rather than cancer tissues) of prostatectomy sections could help to identify high-risk patients who may benefit from adjuvant therapy to decrease the risk of metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117 4F12, Amsterdam 1081 HV, The Netherlands. iv.bijnsdorp@vumc.nl
authors.forename: I V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Bijnsdorp
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rozendaal
authors.forename: R J A
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: van Moorselaar
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Geldof
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D000072259:Connexin 26; D017630:Connexins / Q000032:analysis*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011467:Prostate / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017630:Connexins; C000607042:GJB2 protein, human; D000072259:Connexin 26; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen