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Laser-capture Microdissection of Human Prostatic Epithelium for RNA Analysis
Published on: November 26, 2015
Vimentin and cytokeratin expression in nodular hyperplasia and carcinoma of the prostate
M Heatley1, P Maxwell, C Whiteside
1Department of Pathology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast.
Aim:
To assess the value of vimentin and cytokeratin (CK) intermediate filament proteins (IFPs) in distinguishing between nodular hyperplasia and carcinoma of the prostate and in predicting prognosis in prostatic cancer.
Methods:
Fifteen carcinomas and 49 cases of nodular hyperplasia were studied using frozen sections and monoclonal antibodies to CK and vimentin IFPs.
Results:
There was no statistically significant difference in vimentin expression between nodular hyperplasia and carcinoma. The luminal epithelium in both also reacted with antibodies which detect CK8, 18 and 19. CK 7 expression was found in 57% of cases of nodular hyperplasia and was not identified in any carcinoma. There was a reaction with antibodies to CK1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, and 13 in only a minority of cases. There was no statistically significant difference in vimentin and CK reactivity in high and low grade carcinomas.
Conclusion:
Neither vimentin nor CK expression assists in establishing whether a prostatic lesion is benign or malignant or in predicting the biological behaviour of a prostatic carcinoma.
