Evaluation of Notch1 gene expression in prostate carcinoma

Abstract

Aim: Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and its incidence is rapidly increasing. Currently, several new treatment strategies that target specific signaling pathways as well as immunotherapy are being explored for prostate cancer. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the frequency and clinicopathologic features associated with Notch1 gene expression using immunohistochemistry and real-time-polymerase chain reaction in patients with prostate cancer. Methods: This research was planned as a cohort study. Tissue samples of 60 patients with prostate cancer and 20 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia were selected from the archives. Twenty patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia were used as the control group. The relative expression levels of Notch1 gene were determined by real-time-polymerase chain reaction while Notch1 protein expression was analyzed using immunohistochemistry. Results: We found Notch1 gene expression at a significant level in 17 (28.3%) of 60 patients with prostate carcinoma. We found a significant correlation between high Gleason scores (P=0.007), high ISUP (International Society of Urologic Pathologists) grade group scores (P=0.008) and high prostate-specific antigen levels (P=0.018) for Notch1 gene expression. Conclusions: We conclude that Notch1 is important in prostate carcinogenesis. Therefore, determining Notch1 will be an essential step in targeted therapies in patients with prostate carcinoma.