title: The role of stem/progenitor cells and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the patients with prostate cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper was to investigate the possible effect of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and relationship with Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway progressing of prostate cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty men with a pathological diagnosis of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) (group 1, N.=10), prostate cancer with a gleason score of ≤6 (group 2, N.=10), and prostate cancer with a gleason score of >6 (group 3, N.=10) were included in the study. The patients' groups were compared in terms of immunoreactivity strength of prostatic stem/progenitor cell surface markers including CD133 and CD117. We also compared the immunoreactivity of Wnt7a, a part of Wnt signaling pathway which has a potential role in the progression of several cancers including prostate cancer. The immunoreactivity of Frizzled 6 (Fzd 6) which is the receptor of Wnt family was also evaluated in all groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that although CD133 immunoreactivity was positive in all groups, immunoreactivity was significantly stronger in group 3 when compared to other groups. While CD117 immunoreactivity was negative in group 1 and 2, it was positive in group 3. Wnt7a immunoreactivity was weak in all groups and Fzd 6 immunoreactivity was stronger in group 1 and 3 when compared to group 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings demonstrated that CSCs and Wnt signaling pathway have a potential role in the development and progression of prostate cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology Faculty of Medicine, Celal Bayar University Manisa, Turkey - ozgucan@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Vatansever
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gumus
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Aydogdu
authors.forename: O N
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Sivrikoz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Türköz-Uluer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kivanç
authors.forename: Y Z
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Ateşçi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bugdayci
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000502:physiology*