Expression of hepatocyte nuclear factor 3β and its correlation with clinical parameters in prostate cancer

Abstract

Objective To detect the expression of hepatocyte nuclear factor 3β (Foxa2) in prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and to investigate its clinical relationship with prostate cancer. Methods A retrospective review was performed on 48 cases of prostate cancer and 10 cases of BPH undergoing operation. The expression of Foxa2 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry. Integrated clinical stage, Gleason score, distant metastases, and preoperative prostate specific antigen (PSA) level were analyzed. Results The expression of Foxa2 in prostate cancer was significantly higher than in BPH [weakly positive expression: 18.7% (9/48) vs. 90.0% (9/10); moderate positive expression: 56.3% (27/48) vs. 10.0% (1/10); strong positive expression: 25.0% (12/48) vs. 0.0% (0/10); P=0.000). The expression of Foxa2 (weakly positive expression, moderate positive expression and strong positive expression) in each group was as follows: Gleason score group [2 - 4 score group: 60.0% (3/5), 40.0% (2/5) and 0.0% (0/5); 5-7 score group: 14.3% (4/28), 67.8% (19/28) and 17.9% (5/28); 8-10 score group: 13.3% (2/15), 40.0% (6/15) and 46.7% (7/15). Metastasis group (negative group: 22.6% (7/31), 64.5% (20/31) and 12.9% (4/31); positive group 11.8% (2/17), 41.2% (7/17) and 47.0% (8/17). Clinical stage group (T1-T2 group: 22.7% (5/22), 68.2% (15/22), 9.1% (2/22); T3-T4 group: 15.4% (4/26), 46.1% (12/26), 38.5% (10/26). Preoperative PSA level group (PSA ≤ 10 ng/ml group: 12.5% (1/8), 87.5% (7/8) and 0.0% (0/8); 10-20 ng/ml group: 28.6% (4/14), 57.1% (8/14) and 14.3% (2/14); ≥ 20 ng/ml group: 15.4% (4/26), 46.2% (12/26) and 38.4% (10/26). 2-year biochemical recurrence group (positive group: 25.0% (1/4), 50.0% (2/4) and 25.0% (1/4); negative group: 28.6% (2/7), 57.1% (4/7) and 14.3% (1/7). Foxa2 was associated with Gleason score (P=0.023), invasion and metastasis (P= 0.032). The expression of Foxa2 was positively correlated with the clinical stage (P=0.064) and preoperative PSA level (P=0.115), but didn’t reach statistical significance. No statistically significant differences were found in the 2-year biochemical recurrence rate (P=0.906). Conclusion Our findings unveil the relationship between Foxa2 and prostate cancer development. Key words: Hepatocyte nuclear factor 3β; Prostate cancer; Invasion; Metastasis