title: β-catenin as a prognostic factor for prostate cancer (PCa).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prostate cancer is difficult to predict, and treatment failure is associated with local infiltration, as well as distant metastases. Adhesion and migration abilities to of cancer cells play a major role in formation of metastasis. The participation of β-catenin in pathogene-sis of many types of cancer and benign processes has been an important discovery of recent years.
  
  
  METHODS
  The studied material was obtained by transrectal, sextant core biopsy from 102 patients hospitalized in Department of Urology, Regional Hospital in Kalisz (2001-2004). The aim of our study was to determine the predictive value of β-catenin immunoexpression in prostate cancer, to analyze the prognostic aspect of some histopathological features and finally to assess the relationship between β-catenin immunoreactivity and the microscopic image of the tumor. Relationships between the investigated variables were analyzed using the Chi(2) test of compatibility. We used the Kaplan-Meier curves to assess survival differences between groups of patients. Finally we established which of the studied factors significantly affect the patient outcome, using the method of Cox proportional hazard regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In prostate cancer in comparison with the normal epithelium, both the location and the strength of β-catenin immunoexpression are impaired.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that the presence of disorders in β-catenin immunoexpression in prostate cancer cells indicates a high risk of death due to tumor progression and makes it imperative for immediate treatment procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nowicki
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Medical University of Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Stanisław
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sporny
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duda-Szymańska
keywords: Gleason index; immunoexpression; prognostic factor; prostatic cancer; unfavorable prognosis; β-catenin