title: High Nr-CAM expression is associated with favorable phenotype and late PSA recurrence in prostate cancer treated by prostatectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neuron-glia-related cell-adhesion molecule (Nr-CAM) is another potential membrane-bound target molecule for specific prostate cancer therapy. The role of Nr-CAM in normal and neoplastic prostate tissue has not been extensively studied. The aim of our study is to evaluate the prevalence of Nr-CAM expression in prostate cancer and to explore its association with phenotype and clinical disease course.
  
  
  METHODS
  A preexisting tissue microarray including more than 3000 prostate cancers that underwent prostatectomy at our center with clinical follow-up data was used. The tissue microarray (TMA) was immunhistochemically stained for Nr-CAM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2883 (88.4%) of tumor samples were interpretable in our TMA analysis. Membranous Nr-CAM staining was seen in 1418 (49.2%) of 2883 analyzable cases. According to predefined criteria, staining was considered weak in 778 (27.0%), moderate in 412 (14.3%) and strong in 228 (7.9%) cancers. Significant associations were found with pathological tumor stage (P=0.0015), Gleason grade (P=0.0003), nodal stage (P=0.0061), preoperative PSA (P=0.0138) and prolonged PSA recurrence-free survival (P<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nr-CAM expression is frequent in prostate cancer. High level of Nr-CAM expression is associated with favorable tumor phenotype and reduced risk of PSA recurrence. The abundant presence of Nr-CAM in prostate cancer epithelium makes Nr-CAM a potential target of therapy.
authors: Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. m.tsourlakis@uke.de
authors: M C
authors: MC
authors: Tsourlakis
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Walter
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Quaas
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Graefen
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Huland
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Simon
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Sauter
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Steurer
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Schlomm
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Minner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D007610:Kallikreins / Q000097:blood*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010641:Phenotype; D011379:Prognosis; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D012306:Risk; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; C491152:NRCAM protein, human; C549870:KLK3 protein, human; D007610:Kallikreins; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen