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Survivin and Bcl-2 expression in prostatic adenocarcinomas
Prabhjot Kaur1, Bhaskar S V Kallakury, Christine E Sheehan
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA.
Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
|December 25, 2003
Summary
Survivin is common in prostate cancer but not a prognostic marker, though it may be a therapeutic target. Bcl-2 overexpression predicts disease recurrence and correlates with prognostic factors in prostate cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Dysregulated cell proliferation, driven by apoptosis inhibitors like Bcl-2, fuels tumor progression.
- Survivin is a novel apoptosis inhibitor identified in human carcinomas, with its role in prostate cancer requiring characterization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immunohistochemical expression of Bcl-2 and survivin proteins in prostate cancer.
- To correlate survivin and Bcl-2 expression with clinicopathologic variables in prostate cancer.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical staining for survivin and Bcl-2 was performed on 138 prostatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) tissue sections.
- Staining intensity and distribution were semiquantitatively scored and correlated with prognostic variables.
Main Results:
- Survivin was expressed in 82% of PACs, with no correlation to prognostic variables.
- Bcl-2 was expressed in 69% of PACs and correlated with nondiploid DNA content (P=.02).
- Bcl-2 expression showed a trend with advanced stage (P=.07) and significantly predicted disease recurrence (P<.001).
Conclusions:
- Survivin is frequently expressed in prostate cancer but lacks prognostic significance, yet presents a potential therapeutic target.
- Bcl-2 overexpression is linked to adverse prognostic factors and predicts recurrence in prostate cancer.
- Survivin and Bcl-2 may modulate cell proliferation and apoptosis via distinct pathways.