[Basal-luminal epithelial cell differentiation in prostate cancer is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal...

In patients with prostate cancer to trace the pathway of the malignant cells of the basal layer of the prostate epithelium during their differentiation into luminal cells and/or migration in the mesenchyme.

We used histological and immunohistochemical staining of the markers of the basal layer of the prostate: cytokeratin 5 (CK5), E-cadherin and AMACR, and Western blot to assess the production of the same markers in epithelial and stromal compartments of malignant and normal prostate tissue in patients with prostate cancer.

Our findings revealed that prostate cancer is associated with losing of the basal epithelial layer in the prostate tumor tissue, which is accompanied by a complete loss of CK5 secretion, increased levels of E-cadherin and AMACR in luminal epithelium and the emergence of cells producing E-cadherin and AMACR in the stromal compartment of the prostate.

These findings suggest that in prostate cancer the transformation the basal layer of the epithelial cells is associated with their differentiation into luminal cells and migration into the surrounding mesenchyme due to epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Prostate cancer pathogenesis of associated with changes in epithelial cell pathways and the levels of the markers expression. Their assessment can be used for studying the disease mechanisms and seeking new diagnosis and treatment options.