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Raf‐1 expression may influence progression to androgen insensitive prostate cancer
Author(s) -
Mukherjee R.,
Bartlett J.M.S.,
Krish.S.,
Underwood M.A.,
Edwards J.
Publication year - 2005
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.20211
Subject(s) - prostate cancer , prostate , androgen , medicine , prostate disease , cancer , oncology , cancer research , hormone
BACKGROUND Recent evidence has implicated the MAP kinase pathway with the development of androgen insensitive prostate cancer (AIPC). We have previously reported gene amplification of critical members of this pathway with the development of androgen insensitive disease. METHODS Protein expression of Raf‐1 was analyzed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) in a database of 65 paired tumor specimens obtained before and after the development of AIPC and correlated with other members of the pathway. RESULTS Patients whose Raf‐1 expression rose with development of AIPC had a significantly shorter median time to biochemical relapse compared to those whose expression fell or remained unchanged (1.16 vs. 2.62 years, P = 0.0005). In AIPC tumors, expression of Raf‐1 correlated significantly with expression of HER2 and with expression of c‐fos. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the HER2/Raf‐1/AP‐1 axis may promote the development of AIPC, leading to early relapse. Members of the pathway may act as novel therapeutic targets for patients. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.