Expression of PTEN protein in tissues of prostatic carcinoma and its correlation with apoptosis of cancer cells

    HU Chuanª²Yi, GAO Wuª²Yang, HONG Lin

    Department of Urology, Renhe Hospital, Three Gorges University, Yichang 443001, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To investigate the expression of PTEN protein in tissues of prostatic carcinoma (Pca) and its correlation with the apoptosis of cancer cells. METHODS: Expression of PTEN protein and apoptotic index (AI) were detected by Sª²P immunohistochemical and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferaseª²mediated dUTP biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) technique in 42 cases of Pca and 10 cases of normal prostate (NP). The relationship between the PTEN gene deletion and AI in Pca was analyzed. RESULTS: All of the ten cases of NP were positive for PTEN protein. The overall deletion rate of PTEN gene in Pca was 64.3% and it was strongly associated with the degree of differentiation, clinical stage and lymph metastasis in Pca (P<0.05), but it had no correlation with the age of patients. The PTEN gene deletion was negatively correlated with AI in Pca (r = -0.746, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: There is a higher deletion rate of PTEN gene in Pca, which may play an important role in the genesis and development of some Pca and result in the reduction of cell apoptosis in Pca. Detection of PTEN protein and AI in Pca may be helpful to evaluate the degree of cell differentiation, decide on therapeutic strategies and deduce prognosis. ......