title: Characterization of desmoglein expression in the normal prostatic gland. Desmoglein 2 is an independent prognostic factor for aggressive prostate cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The expression of desmogleins (DSGs), which are known to be crucial for establishing and maintaining the cell-cell adhesion required for tissue integrity, has been well characterized in the epidermis and hair follicle; however, their expression in other epithelial tissues such as prostate is poorly understood. Although downregulation of classical cadherins, such as E-cadherin, has been described in prostate cancer tissue samples, the expression of desmogleins has only been previously reported in prostate cancer cell lines. In this study we characterized desmoglein expression in normal prostate tissues, and further investigated whether Desmoglein 2 (DSG2) expression specifically can serve as a potential clinical prognostic factor for patients diagnosed with primary prostate cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We utilized immunofluorescence to examine DSG2 expression in normal prostate (n = 50) and in a clinically well-characterized cohort of prostate cancer patients (n = 414). Correlation of DSG2 expression with clinico-pathological characteristics and biochemical recurrence was analyzed to assess its clinical significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  These studies revealed that DSG2 and DSG4 were specifically expressed in prostatic luminal cells, whereas basal cells lack their expression. In contrast, DSG1 and DSG3 were not expressed in normal prostate epithelium. Further analyses of DSG2 expression in prostate cancer revealed that reduced levels of this biomarker were a significant independent marker of poor clinical outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Here we report for the first time that a low DSG2 expression phenotype is a useful prognostic biomarker of tumor aggressiveness and may serve as an aid in identifying patients with clinically significant prostate cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Alison G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Mireia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castillo-Martin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Dennis M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Bonal
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America.
authors.forename: Benjamin A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Rybicki
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America; Department of Dermatology, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Christiano
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America; Department of Urology, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America; Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cordon-Cardo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015331:Cohort Studies; D051301:Desmoglein 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051182:Desmogleins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D011379:Prognosis; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D051301:Desmoglein 2; D051182:Desmogleins