Premium
Polo‐like kinase 1 is overexpressed in prostate cancer and linked to higher tumor grades
Author(s) -
Weichert Wilko,
Schmidt Mathias,
Gekeler Volker,
Denkert Carsten,
Stephan Carsten,
Jung Klaus,
Loening Stefan,
Dietel Manfred,
Kristiansen Glen
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
the prostate
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.295
H-Index - 123
eISSN - 1097-0045
pISSN - 0270-4137
DOI - 10.1002/pros.20050
Subject(s) - plk1 , prostate , prostate cancer , immunohistochemistry , medicine , hyperplasia , pathology , carcinogenesis , intraepithelial neoplasia , cancer research , cancer , oncology , cell cycle
BACKGROUND Polo‐like kinase 1 (PLK1) is known to be one of the key players in the regulation of mitosis of both normal and malignant transformed cells. Moreover, several studies reported an overexpression of PLK1 in human malignancies compared to the corresponding tissue of origin. METHODS In this study, expression of PLK1 was investigated by immunohistochemistry in 78 tissue specimens of prostate carcinoma and in adjacent normal prostate tissue as well as in benign prostate hyperplasia. PLK1 expression was semiquantitavely scored and subsequently correlated to clinicopathological parameters and patient prognosis. RESULTS No significant PLK1 expression was observed in normal prostate glandular epithelium and stroma. Specimens of benign prostate hyperplasia were PLK1‐negative as well. In contrast, 52.6% of all prostate carcinomas showed strong expression of PLK1. High grade intraepithelial lesions, if present, stained almost invariably in the same manner as the respective invasive tumors. Expression of PLK1 correlated positively with Gleason grade ( P = 0.011). No other significant correlations of PLK1 expression with either tumor stage, WHO tumor grade, preoperative PSA, age, or resection margins could be established. In an analysis for differences in PSA‐relapse‐free survival time, PLK1 expression was not a prognostic marker. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate a high rate of PLK1‐positivity in prostate cancer which suggests involvement of PLK1 in tumorigenesis and progression in this tumor entity. Therefore, targeted strategies focussing on PLK1 inhibition might represent a promising new chemotherapeutic approach in prostate cancer. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.