Pan-cadherin as a high level phenotypic biomarker for prostate cancer

J Urol. 2002 May;167(5):2215-21.

Abstract

Purpose: High level phenotypic biomarkers such as cadherins are needed to identify individuals at risk for biologically active prostate cancer and determine which individuals with elevated prostate specific antigen or a prostate nodule are candidates for re-biopsy. Cadherins are a high level phenotypic biomarker associated with decreased cell adhesion, which is a cardinal event in carcinogenesis. Recently we reported that G-actin and tissue transglutaminase type II are potential biomarkers for prostate cancer. In this study we present cadherins as a potential third component of the biomarker profile.

Materials and methods: Prostate tissues from 38 patients with cancer and 33 controls with a 10-year prostate cancer-free followup were labeled for pan-cadherin by immunohistochemical testing. Immunoreactivity was quantified using a Pathology Workstation (Autocyte Inc., Elon College, North Carolina).

Results: Visually benign glands from controls generally expressed cadherins, whereas regions of adenocarcinoma were generally negative. On quantitative immunohistochemistry 36 of 38 prostate cancer cases expressed a lower mean percent area positive for cadherin than the 19 benign prostatic hyperplasia and 14 prostatitis cases (odds ratio 978, 95% confidence interval 45 to 21,140, relative risk 18, 95% confidence interval 5 to 67, p <0.0001). Receiver operating characteristics analysis of immunohistochemical testing data showed that an optimal threshold of 7 produced 95% sensitivity and 100% specificity.

Conclusions: Quantitative down-regulation of cadherin expression in prostate cancer tissue sections is a strong biomarker for prostate cancer. Analysis of cadherin and other high level phenotypic biomarker expression in the premalignant field may provide additional diagnostic information to decide which patients need re-biopsy, more intensive monitoring or chemoprevention.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics*
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
  • Biopsy
  • Cadherins / analysis
  • Cadherins / genetics*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Phenotype*
  • Prognosis
  • Prostate / pathology
  • Prostatectomy
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Cadherins