ISSN:
1573-2584
Keywords:
Immunohistochemistry
;
Ki67
;
Prostate carcinoma
;
Retinoic acid receptor-α
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Background: The use of retinoids as differentiation therapy is a novel approach to prostate cancer. Retinoids act via their own nuclear receptors, RARs and RXRs, modulating gene activity, cell growth and differentiation. This study provides new data on the content and cellular distribution of RARα protein in prostate cancer specimens, in correlation to tumor grade and proliferative activity. Material and methods: A total of 84 cases of primary prostate carcinoma, divided into 3 subgroups according to tumor grade, were immunohistochemically evaluated for retinoic acid receptor-α (RARα) and Ki67 using the streptavidin/peroxidase method on formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissues. Results: RARα positivity was detected in all cases of prostatic carcinoma, with a more profound expression in well differentiated cancers. A statistically significant correlation between RARα staining and tumor grade was found (ANOVA, p 〈 0.031). Ki67 immunoreactivity was present in 35.7% of cases, but no correlation with tumor grade was found. When RARα staining was correlated with Ki67 positivity, a statistically significant correlation was present (unpaired t-test, p 〈 0.003). Conclusions: These findings indicate that RARα expression is correlated to some extent with tumor grade and its presence is more profound in highly proliferative tumors. Further studies are needed to establish the possible clinical value of the immunohistochemical evaluation of RARα content in tumor specimens.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1007126332651
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