Overexpression of BRCA1 or BRCA2 in prostatectomy specimens is predictive of biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the protein expressions of breast cancer 1 (BRCA1) and 2 (BRCA2) in prostatectomy specimens of localized prostate cancer (PC) patients, along with their associations with cancer characteristics and prognosis.


RESULTS
Immunohistochemistry for BRCA1 and BRCA2 was performed on tissue microarrays of 510 PC cases treated from 2002 to 2012. The cytoplasmic immunoreactivity was scored for intensity, and clinicopathological parameters, including biochemical recurrence (BCR), were evaluated. During a median follow-up of 44 months, 128 patients developed BCR, with positive staining rates of 93.3% (n = 476) and 41.6% (n = 212) for BRCA1 and BRCA2, respectively, in the malignant tissues. The BRCA2 expression differed significantly between BCR-positive and BCR-free cases [hazard ratio (HR): 1.75, P = 0.002]. BRCA1 and BRCA2 correlated significantly with age [odds ratio (OR): 0.131] and pN stage (OR: 6.00), pN stage (OR: 1.717) and BCR (OR: 1.972), respectively (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that BRCA1 (HR: 0.435), BRCA2 (HR: 2.45), pT3 stage (HR: 2.253), resection margin positivity (HR: 1.58), prostate size (HR: 0.975) and Gleason score (HR: 2.214-2.253) were independent predictors of BCR (P < 0.05). Moreover, BRCA2 correlated significantly with BCR-free survival (P = 0.0017).


CONCLUSIONS
BRCA1 or BRCA2 overexpression is a significant predictive factor for BCR in PC patients.
Department of Urology, Center for Prostate Cancer, Research Institute and Hospital of National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea.
Sung Han
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1689-5203
SH
Kim
Department of Pathology, Clinical Research Coordination Center, Hospital of National Cancer Center, Goyangsi, South Korea.
Weon Seo
WS
Park
Biometric Research Branch, Clinical Research Coordination Center, Hospital of National Cancer Center, Goyangsi, South Korea.
Soo In
SI
Yun
Biometric Research Branch, Clinical Research Coordination Center, Hospital of National Cancer Center, Goyangsi, South Korea.
Jungnam
J
Joo
Department of Urology, Center for Prostate Cancer, Research Institute and Hospital of National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea.
Jae Young
JY
Joung
Department of Urology, Center for Prostate Cancer, Research Institute and Hospital of National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea.
Ho Kyung
HK
Seo
Department of Urology, Center for Prostate Cancer, Research Institute and Hospital of National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea.
Jinsoo
J
Chung
Department of Pathology, Clinical Research Coordination Center, Hospital of National Cancer Center, Goyangsi, South Korea.
Geon Kook
GK
Lee
Department of Urology, Center for Prostate Cancer, Research Institute and Hospital of National Cancer Center, Goyang, South Korea.
Kang Hyun
KH
Lee
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D024682:BRCA2 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
D019313:BRCA1 Protein; C492913:BRCA1 protein, human; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; C551750:BRCA2 protein, human
BRCA; biochemical recurrence; immunohistochemistry; prostate cancer; radical prostatectomy; tissue microarray