Abstract
The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether prostate cancer (PC) patients can be accurately classified on the bases of tissue expression of gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) and prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). This retrospective study included 28 patients with PC. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples were used for diagnosis. Immunohistochemistry staining techniques were used to evaluate PSMA and GRPR expression (both number of cells expressed and % of area stained). To assess the independent associations among selected variables, a multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) analysis was used. It was found that the PSMA expression was inversely correlated with GRPR expression. Only the number of cells expressing GRPR was significantly related to the Gleason score. Both the percentage of area expressing GRPR and the number of cells expressing PSMA were close to reaching significance at the 0.05 level. MDS provided a map of the overall, independent association confirming that GRPR and PSMA represent inversely correlated measures of the same dimension. In conclusion, our data showed that GRPR expression should be evaluated in prostate biopsy specimens to improve our ability to detect PC with low grades at the earliest phases of development. Considering that GRPRs appear to be directly involved in the mechanisms of tumor proliferation, advancements in nuclear medicine radiotherapy can focus on this receptor to improve the therapeutic approach to PC. Further studies in our laboratory will investigate the molecular mechanisms of activation based on GRPR.
Highlights
Prostate cancer (PC) has one of the highest incidence rates and represents the sixth leading causes of cancer death among men worldwide [1]
In the present study it was found that the expression of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) can accurately predict the grade and stage of prostate cancer (PC)
Multi-dimensional scaling revealed that PSMA and GRPR are inversely related, confirming that both measures can be used as a reliable indicator of the size of the tumor tissue
Summary
Prostate cancer (PC) has one of the highest incidence rates and represents the sixth leading causes of cancer death among men worldwide [1]. The worldwide PC incidence is expected to increase nearly two-fold by 2040, due to the growth and aging of the population. To prevent this global crisis, accurate diagnosis and staging of PC are of paramount importance. The International Society for Urological Pathology (ISUP) has published guidelines for the classification and outcome of PC. This grading system divides PCs into 5 prognostic grade groups. Group 1 (I/V) includes GS 6 (3 + 3), grade 2 (II/V) corresponds to GS 7 (3 + 4), while grade 3 (III/V) identifies prostate tumors with GS 7 (4 + 3). The division of risk classes and TNM staging are aimed at the correct planning of the diagnosis and therapy of patients with prostate cancer
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