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Updated: Jan 22, 2026
miRNA Expression Analyses in Prostate Cancer Clinical Tissues
Published on: September 8, 2015
KIF3B protein expression loss correlates with metastatic ability of prostate cancer
Oleksandr Kravtsov1, Christopher P Hartley1, Eva-Maria Compérat2
1Department of Pathology, Medical College of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Abstract:
Kinesin family member 3B (KIF3B) is a microtubule motor kinesin involved in mitotic progression and vasculotropism. A novel therapeutic target, it is overexpressed in several cancers [PMID 29904055]. Its significance in prostate cancer (PC) was uncertain.
Methods:
89 cases, including tissue microarrays from 70 prostatectomies comprising matched cancer and benign spots, 19 additional prostatectomy tissues, plus 16 prostate cancer metastases (7 nodal and 9 distant sites; 8 had matched primary PC) were stained with rabbit polyclonal KIF3B antibody. Cytoplasmic immunoreactivity was scored: 0 (negative) to 3+ (strong and diffuse). 39 patients had no nodal metastases, 31 had positive lymph nodes, and 19 had nodes not sampled. Gleason grade groups were 1 (9), 2 (28), 3 (39), 4 (1), and 5 (12). 15 cases had cribriform pattern. AJCC stages were 2 (48), 3 (29), unknown (12).
Results:
KIF3B in PC (mean 1.0) was higher than in benign prostate (mean 0.1, P<0.01, Student t-test). All 7 available nodal metastases of PC were negative. One-third of primary PCs with nodal metastases lost all expression, compared to retained expression in all but one PC without nodal metastasis (P<0.01, chi-square). The former group also had stronger staining (mean 1.0) than metastases (mean 0.3) (P<0.01, Student t-test) and had fewer cases with any positive (>0) expression compared to cases without metastases or with unsampled lymph nodes (P<0.01, chi-square test). Reactivity of paired metastatic tissue and primary PC correlated strongly (Pearson coefficient: +0.7). No significant trends were found by grade group, cribriform status, or stage.
Conclusions:
KIF3B is a PC marker. Metastatic cancers showed less KIF3B expression than their primary PC counterparts, and primary cases with positive nodes demonstrated reduced positivity, suggesting use as a prognostic marker. It is possible that KIF3B protein becomes altered prior to metastases, preventing immunohistochemical detection.
Insights
Kinesin family member 3B (KIF3B) is a prostate cancer marker. Reduced KIF3B expression in primary tumors with positive nodes and metastases suggests its potential as a prognostic indicator.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Kinesin family member 3B (KIF3B) is a microtubule motor protein implicated in cell division and cancer progression.
- Overexpression of KIF3B has been observed in various cancers, positioning it as a potential therapeutic target.
- The role of KIF3B in prostate cancer (PC) pathogenesis and its prognostic value remained largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression levels of KIF3B in prostate cancer tissues.
- To determine the correlation between KIF3B expression and clinicopathological features of prostate cancer, including metastasis and lymph node involvement.
- To evaluate the potential of KIF3B as a prognostic biomarker in prostate cancer.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical staining for KIF3B was performed on tissue microarrays from 89 prostate cancer cases, including primary tumors, matched benign tissues, and metastatic samples.
- Cytoplasmic KIF3B immunoreactivity was quantitatively scored.
- Statistical analyses, including Student's t-test, chi-square test, and Pearson correlation, were employed to assess KIF3B expression in relation to clinicopathological parameters.
Main Results:
- KIF3B expression was significantly higher in prostate cancer tissues compared to benign prostate tissues (P<0.01).
- All nodal metastases evaluated showed negative KIF3B expression.
- Primary prostate cancers with positive lymph nodes exhibited significantly reduced KIF3B expression compared to those without nodal metastasis (P<0.01).
- A strong positive correlation was observed between KIF3B expression in paired primary tumors and their corresponding metastases (Pearson coefficient: +0.7).
Conclusions:
- KIF3B serves as a marker for prostate cancer.
- Decreased KIF3B expression in primary tumors with lymph node metastasis and in metastatic sites suggests its potential utility as a prognostic biomarker.
- Alterations in KIF3B protein expression may occur early in the metastatic process, potentially impacting its detection via immunohistochemistry.
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