Correlation between molecular biomarkers and risk factors for the clinical progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia using tissue microarray immunostaining

Abstract

Background The pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has been widely studied, and several biomarkers are known to play roles in its development. This study aimed to investigate the possible role of cysteine-rich protein 61 (CYR61), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), androgen receptor (AR), interleukin-6 (IL-6), cytochrome c, caspase-3, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the clinical progression of BPH. Methods Tissue specimens from 96 BPH cases who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate were processed and transferred to tissue microarrays. Patient age, prostate volume, serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) of all BPH cases were collected before surgery. The expression of CYR61, VEGF, AR, IL-6, cytochrome c, caspase-3, and PCNA was examined by immunostaining in the BPH specimens, and any possible correlation between the different biomarkers and risk factors for BPH clinical progression was analyzed. Results The expression of CYR61, VEGF, AR, IL-6, cytochrome c, caspase-3, and PCNA in the BPH cases was 68.8% (66/96), 77.1% (74/96), 43.8% (42/96), 31.3% (30/96), 35.4% (34/96), 56.3% (54/96), and 29.2% (28/96), respectively. The expression of both CYR61 and VEGF was positively correlated with patient age, prostate volume, and serum PSA level (P <0.05). Furthermore, cytochrome c and caspase-3 expression were inversely related to prostate volume (P <0.05), and AR expression was positively related to serum PSA level (P <0.05). Conclusion CYR61 and VEGF expression might serve as biomarkers for predicting the clinical progression of BPH due to effects on stromal cell proliferation and angiogenesis.