title: Immunohistochemical detection of angiotensin AT 1 and AT 2 receptors in prostate cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The human prostate gland contains all the compounds of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), including AT1 and AT2 angiotensin receptors. The role of local RAS in the prostate pathology is recently discussed. The aim of the present study was the evaluation of AT1 and AT2 expressions in human prostate cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The investigation was performed in 20 paraffin-embedded needle biopsy specimens from routine diagnostic prostate cancer biopsies. The specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and immunostained with anti-AT1 and anti-AT2 antibodies. For visualization of primary antibodies, the streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase technique was applied. The expression of both receptor proteins was evaluated quantitatively using image analysis method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The positive immunostaining with both anti- AT1 and anti-AT2 antibodies can be found in stromal as well as epithelial structures. The results of quantitative evaluation showed the positive correlation between AT1 and AT2 expressions in neoplastic epithelium and overexpression of both AT1 and AT2 in neoplastic epithelium of Gleason grade 2, but not in cancerous structures of Gleason grades 3-5.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data on AT1 and AT2 receptor expressions may suggest the involvement of RAS in prostate cancerogenesis. Moreover, the persistence of AT1 receptors in prostate cancer speaks in favor of attempts to use of AT1 receptor blockers (i.e. sartanes) and/or AT2 agonists in prostate cancer prophylaxis and/or treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroendocrinology, Chair of Endocrinology, Medical University of Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pawlikowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathomorphology and Cytopathology, Medical University of Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Radosław
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Minias
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Medical University of Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sosnowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathomorphology and Cytopathology, Medical University of Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Zieliński
keywords: AT1; AT2; angiotensin receptors; immunohistochemistry; prostate cancer; quantitative evaluation