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Microarray-based Identification of Individual HERV Loci Expression: Application to Biomarker Discovery in Prostate Cancer
Published on: November 2, 2013
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Tissue microarray analysis indicates hedgehog signaling as a potential prognostic factor in intermediate-risk
Annelies Gonnissen1,2, Sofie Isebaert3,4, Christiaan Perneel5
1Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Experimental Radiotherapy, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, KU Leuven Campus Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, box 815, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
BMC Cancer
|September 8, 2017
Summary
The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is more active in prostate cancer (PCa) tissues. High GLI2 expression indicates aggressive tumors, while GLI3 expression predicts a favorable prognosis for PCa patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Signaling Pathways
Background:
- Prostate cancer (PCa) is a complex disease with varied outcomes.
- The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is implicated in PCa development and progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare Hh pathway activation in benign versus malignant prostate tissue.
- To assess the clinical significance of Hh signaling in PCa.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective tissue microarray (TMA) study.
- Compared protein expression of Hh components and target proteins in 64 benign and 170 malignant prostate tissues.
- Correlated findings with PCa characteristics and biochemical recurrence (BCR).
Main Results:
- Hh pathway shows increased activity in PCa, evidenced by lower PTCH1 and GLI3 expression in tumors.
- High epithelial GLI2 expression correlates with higher Gleason scores.
- Elevated epithelial GLI3 expression is an independent predictor of favorable PCa prognosis.
Conclusions:
- Hh pathway activation may indicate aggressive PCa behavior, linked to high GLI2 expression.
- High epithelial GLI3 expression serves as a significant independent marker for a better PCa prognosis.
