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Updated: Jul 4, 2025
An Orthotopic Murine Model of Human Prostate Cancer Metastasis
Published on: September 18, 2013
Expression of the microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) as a potential independent prognostic marker in prostate
Johannes Stein1, Eliana Krappe2, Anika Kremer2
1Department of Urology, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany. Johannes.stein@ukbonn.de.
Purpose:
Investigation of Microtubuli-associated Protein 2 (MAP2) expression and its clinical relevance in prostate cancer.
Material And Methods:
MAP2 expression was immunohistochemically analysed on radical prostatectomy specimens using whole block sections (n = 107) and tissue microarrays (TMA; n = 310). The staining intensity was evaluated for carcinoma, benign tissue and prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. Expression data were correlated with clinicopathological parameters and biochemical recurrence-free survival. Additionally, MAP2 protein expression was quantitatively analysed in the serum of histologically confirmed prostate carcinoma patients and the control group using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results:
MAP2 staining was significantly stronger in neoplastic tissue than in non-neoplastic prostatic glands, both in whole block sections (p < 0.01) and in TMA sections (p < 0.05). TMA data revealed significantly stronger MAP2 staining in high-grade tumors. Survival analysis showed a significant correlation between strong MAP2 staining in carcinoma and shortened biochemical recurrence-free survival after prostatectomy (p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis confirmed MAP2 as an independent predictor for an unfavourable course. Mean MAP2 serum levels for non-PCA vs. PCA patients differed significantly (non-PCA = 164.7 pg/ml vs. PCA = 242.5 pg/ml, p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
The present data support MAP2 as a novel biomarker in PCA specimens. MAP2 is correlated with tumor grade and MAP2 high-expressing PCA is associated with an increased risk of biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. Future studies are necessary to evaluate MAP2 as a valuable immunohistochemical biomarker in preoperative PCA diagnostic procedures, in particular with regard to treatment modalities.
