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Laser-capture Microdissection of Human Prostatic Epithelium for RNA Analysis
Published on: November 26, 2015
Carbonic anhydrase IX expression in prostate cancer
L G Smyth1, G O'Hurley, A O'Grady
1University College Dublin School of Medicine and Medical Science, Dublin, Ireland. lisa.smyth@ucd.ie
Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases
|December 30, 2009
Summary
Prostate cancer is a hypoxic tumour but does not express carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX). This suggests CA IX is not a reliable marker for hypoxia in prostate cancer, indicating alternative pH regulation mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cancer Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Tumour hypoxia is prevalent in over 70% of solid tumours, including prostate and colorectal cancer.
- Hypoxia is linked to tumour progression and treatment resistance.
- Carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) is a known marker of hypoxia, expressed in lung and renal cell carcinomas, and associated with poor prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) in prostate cancer.
- To determine if CA IX is a suitable marker for tumour hypoxia in prostate cancer.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was employed to analyze CA IX expression.
- Tissue microarrays (TMAs) and full tissue sections from 59 patients were examined.
- Samples included benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), surrounding stroma, and prostate adenocarcinoma across different Gleason grades.
Main Results:
- Occasional cell staining for CA IX expression was observed in prostate cancer tissues.
- Prostate cancer, despite being a hypoxic tumour, does not significantly express CA IX.
- Colorectal cancer and HIF-1alpha in prostate cancer served as positive controls.
Conclusions:
- Carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) is not expressed in prostate cancer.
- Prostate cancer likely utilizes alternative pathways for pH balance under hypoxic conditions.
- CA IX is not a suitable biomarker for hypoxia in prostate cancer.
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