title: HOXB13 as an immunohistochemical marker of prostatic origin in metastatic tumors.
abstract: HOBX13 is a transcription factor expressed in the normal prostatic glands and overexpressed in prostate cancer. Recent studies suggested that HOXB13 represents a prostate-specific marker in the differential diagnosis between prostatic and urothelial carcinoma. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the diagnostic value of HOXB13 and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) immunoexpression for the detection of prostatic origin in metastatic tumours. PSA and HOXB13 immunohistochemical expression was assessed in 50 metastatic tumors, including 15 metastases from prostatic adenocarcinoma, 11 from lung adenocarcinoma, 12 from urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma, 11 from colorectal carcinoma, and in 1 from hepatocellular carcinoma. Strong staining for HOXB13 was observed in >75% of neoplastic cells in 15/15 (100%) metastases from prostate cancer. Weak staining in <25% of cells was found in 2/12 (17%) metastases from urothelial carcinoma. PSA immunostaining was detected only in 8 (53%) cases of prostatic origin. The sensitivity and specificity for metastatic prostate cancer were 100% and 94% for HOXB13 and 53% and 100% for PSA. Due to its high sensitivity and specificity, HOXB13 may be included in the pool of prostate-specific markers in metastases showing absent or weak staining for PSA before excluding prostatic derivation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology "G. Barresi", University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barresi
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology "G. Barresi", University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ieni
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology "G. Barresi", University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cardia
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology "G. Barresi", University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Luana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Licata
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology "G. Barresi", University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vitarelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Laboratory and Pathologic Anatomy, Polyclinic of Modena, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reggiani Bonetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology "G. Barresi", University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tuccari
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D000077192:Adenocarcinoma of Lung; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D014571:Urologic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005819:Genetic Markers; C484414:HOXB13 protein, human; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen
keywords: HOXB13; metastasis; prostate cancer; prostate-specific antigen; urothelial carcinoma