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Updated: Aug 24, 2026
miRNA Expression Analyses in Prostate Cancer Clinical Tissues
Published on: September 8, 2015
Loss of 14-3-3sigma in prostate cancer and its precursors
Liang Cheng1, Chong-Xian Pan, Jian-Ting Zhang
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. lcheng@iupui.edu
Purpose:
The 14-3-3 family proteins are highly conserved over many mammalian species. The sigma isoform (also called HME-1 or stratifin) is expressed in epithelial cells. Loss of 14-3-3sigma is associated with failure to arrest the cell cycle at the G(2)-M phase checkpoint after DNA damage that leads to increased G(2)-type chromosomal aberrations. The role of 14-3-3sigma in prostatic carcinogenesis is uncertain.
Experimental Design:
We studied one hundred and eleven specimens of invasive prostate adenocarcinoma with paired, adjacent high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and normal prostate epithelium. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of 14-3-3sigma. The findings were correlated with various clinical pathological parameters.
Results:
14-3-3sigma is ubiquitously expressed at high levels in normal prostate epithelium. Its expression is significantly decreased in prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and prostatic adenocarcinoma. Ninety percent of samples of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia had no or low 14-3-3sigma expression. Ninety-seven percent of invasive adenocarcinomas had no or low 14-3-3sigma expression. In most specimens (90%), suppression of 14-3-3sigma expression occurred during the development of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia from normal epithelium.
Conclusions:
Our data suggest that loss of 14-3-3sigma contributes to the development of prostate adenocarcinoma. 14-3-3sigma expression is significantly decreased during the progression of normal prostatic epithelium to prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive cancer.
Insights
Loss of 14-3-3sigma protein expression is linked to prostate cancer development. This protein
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Cycle Regulation
Background:
- 14-3-3 proteins are conserved in mammals.
- 14-3-3sigma (HME-1/stratifin) is found in epithelial cells.
- Loss of 14-3-3sigma correlates with cell cycle G(2)-M arrest failure and chromosomal aberrations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of 14-3-3sigma in prostate carcinogenesis.
- To determine if 14-3-3sigma expression changes during prostate cancer progression.
Main Methods:
- Studied 111 prostate adenocarcinoma specimens with adjacent normal and high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN).
- Utilized immunohistochemistry to detect 14-3-3sigma expression.
- Correlated 14-3-3sigma levels with clinical and pathological parameters.
Main Results:
- Normal prostate epithelium exhibits high 14-3-3sigma expression.
- Prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and adenocarcinoma show significantly decreased 14-3-3sigma expression.
- Suppression of 14-3-3sigma occurs during the transition from normal epithelium to HGPIN in 90% of cases.
Conclusions:
- Loss of 14-3-3sigma expression contributes to prostate adenocarcinoma development.
- Decreased 14-3-3sigma is a hallmark of progression from normal to cancerous prostate epithelium.
