Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 2026
Laser-capture Microdissection of Human Prostatic Epithelium for RNA Analysis
Published on: November 26, 2015
Quantitative analysis of hippostasin/KLK11 gene expression in cancerous and noncancerous prostatic tissues
Terukazu Nakamura1, Carsten Stephan, Andreas Scorilas
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Prostate-type kallikrein 11 (KLK11) expression is elevated in prostate cancer tissues. Lower expression of this prostate-type KLK11 isoform correlates with advanced tumor stage and grade, suggesting its potential as a prognostic marker.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Hippostasin/kallikrein 11 (KLK11) is a human kallikrein gene family member on chromosome 19q13.4.
- KLK11 exists in brain and prostate alternative splicing isoforms.
- Previous studies indicated no prostate-type KLK11 expression in prostate cancer cell lines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare KLK11 isoform expression in normal and prostate cancer tissues.
- To investigate the association of KLK11 isoforms with clinicopathological features of prostate cancer.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
- Analysis of 76 matched pairs of human normal and prostate cancer tissues.
- Correlation analysis with tumor stage, Gleason score, and tumor grade.
Main Results:
- Both KLK11 isoforms showed 25-45% higher expression in cancer tissues versus normal.
- Lower expression of prostate-type KLK11 was significantly associated with higher tumor stage, Gleason score, and tumor grade.
- No significant association was found for the brain-type KLK11 isoform.
Conclusions:
- Prostate-type KLK11 expression is upregulated in prostate cancer.
- Prostate-type KLK11 warrants further investigation as a novel prognostic indicator for prostate cancer.
Objectives:
Hippostasin/kallikrein 11 (KLK11) is a member of the human kallikrein gene family, which includes prostate-specific antigen (PSA), human kallikrein 2 (hK2), and another 12 members, all localized on chromosome 19q13.4. Hippostasin has two alternative splicing isoforms, known as the brain type and prostate type. We have previously reported that the prostate-type isoform is not expressed in human prostate cancer cell lines.
Methods:
We compared the expression of hippostasin/KLK11 isoforms in 76 matched pairs of human normal and prostate cancer tissues by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.
Results:
The expression of both isoforms of KLK11 was 25% to 45% higher in cancer tissues compared with their normal counterparts. Regarding prostate-type KLK11, we identified a significant association between lower expression and higher tumor stage, Gleason score, and tumor grade. No such association was seen with the brain-type isoform.
Conclusions:
: The expression of the prostate-type isoform of KLK11 is increased in prostate cancer. This parameter should be examined further as a new prognostic indicator of prostate cancer.
