OBJECTIVE: To clarify the detailed pathologic roles of prostaglandin E2 in prostate cancer tissues, the present study investigated the clinical significance and prognostic roles of the density of tumor-associated stromal cells expressing specific receptors for prostaglandin E2, termed "E-prostanoid (EP)1-4 receptors (EP1R-4Rs)."
METHODS: The expression of each receptor was immunohistochemically examined in 114 formalin-fixed biopsy specimens. Correlations with clinicopathologic features were investigated in these specimens. Angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis were measured by the percentage of CD34-stained vessels (microvessel density) and D2-40-stained vessels (lymph vessel density). The relationships between the density of each EPR-stained cells and the microvessel density or lymph vessel density were evaluated in 62 prostate cancer tissues obtained by radical surgery for more detailed analysis in a wider area of prostate cancer tissue.
RESULTS: The density of tumor-associated cells with EP2R expression was positively associated with the N (P< .001) and M (P= .002) stages. Similarly, EP3R-positive stromal cell density was significantly associated with the N (P=.033) and M (P=.026) stages. The density of EP2R- and EP3R-stained cells correlated with the microvessel density (r=0.42, P< .001) and lymph vessel density (r=0.36, P=.012), respectively. A greater density of EP2R-stained cells was recognized as an independent predictor of progression (hazard ratio 7.26, P=.002) on multivariate analysis.
CONCLUSION: EP2R- and EP3R-stained cells might play important roles in tumor progression, angiogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis in prostate cancer. The density of EP2R-stained stromal cells could offer a useful predictor of biochemical recurrence after radical surgery.
Written by:
Miyata Y, Ohba K, Matsuo T, Watanabe S, Hayashi T, Sakai H, Kanetake H. Are you the author?
Department of Nephro-urology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and Department of Pathology, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan.
Reference: Urology. 2013 Jan;81(1):136-42.
doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2012.08.014
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23149328
UroToday.com Investigative Urology Section
