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The role of secreted frizzled‐related protein 2 expression in prostate cancer
Author(s) -
O’Hurley Gillian,
Perry Antoinette S,
O’Grady Anthony,
Loftus Barbara,
Smyth Paul,
O’Leary John J,
Sheils Orla,
Fitzpatrick John M,
Hewitt Stephen M,
Lawler Mark,
Kay Elaine W
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2011.04073.x
Subject(s) - frizzled , prostate cancer , protein expression , prostate , cancer research , cancer , medicine , biology , wnt signaling pathway , microbiology and biotechnology , signal transduction , gene , genetics
O’Hurley G, Perry A S, O’Grady A, Loftus B, Smyth P, O’Leary J J, Sheils O, Fitzpatrick J M, Hewitt S M, Lawler M & Kay E W
(2011) Histopathology 59 , 1240–1248
The role of secreted frizzled‐related protein 2 expression in prostate cancer Aims: Improved prostate cancer (PCa)‐specific biomarkers are urgently required to distinguish between indolent and aggressive disease, in order to avoid overtreatment. In this study, we investigated the prostatic tissue expression of secreted frizzled‐related protein (SFRP)‐2. Methods and results: Following immunohistochemical analysis on PCa tissue microarrays with samples from 216 patients, strong/moderate SFRP‐2 expression was observed in epithelial cells of benign prostatic hyperplasia, and negative/weak SFRP‐2 expression was observed in the majority of tumour epithelia. However, among Gleason grade 5 carcinomas, 40% showed strong/moderate SFRP‐2 expression and 60% showed negative SFRP‐2 expression in epithelial cells. Further microscopic evaluation of Gleason grade 5 tumours revealed different morphological patterns, corresponding with differential SFRP‐2 expression. The first subgroup (referred to as Type A) appeared to have a morphologically solid growth pattern, whereas the second subgroup (referred to as Type B) appeared to have a more diffuse pattern. Furthermore, 100% (4/4) of Type A patients experienced biochemical recurrence, as compared with 0% (0/6) of Type B patients. Conclusions: These results imply: (i) that there is a loss of SFRP‐2 expression from benign to malignant prostate glands; and (ii) differential SFRP‐2 expression among two possible subgroups of Gleason grade 5 tumours.