Abstract
Background: To determine whether an imbalanced
interaction between proapototic and antiapoptotic signals may
account for the loss of the normal cell growth control in benign
prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), the expression of some apoptosisregulating
genes (bcl-2, bax, c-myc, fas) was investigated. Patients
and Methods: BPH specimens were obtained from 20 patients who
underwent trans-urethral resection of the prostate (TURP) or
adenomectomy. Gene expression was studied by reverse
transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and its
correlation with age and serum PSA level was also investigated.
Results: Genes were found to be differentially expressed in BPH
tissues. In particular, the antiapoptotic gene bcl-2, which was
found in 18/20 samples, gave the weakest signal (p<0.05-p<0.001,
Wilcoxon’s signed rank test), whereas the cell cycle regulator c-myc
was detected in all the specimens and was the most highly
expressed (p<0.001). A positive relationship between the
expression of bcl-2 and that of the two proapoptotic genes bax and
fas was observed (p<0.05, Spearman's rank correlation test), as
well as between c-myc and fas levels (p<0.005). Moreover, bax
expression positively correlated with age and PSA (p<0.02), which
have also been shown to directly correlate (p<0.01). Conclusion:
The higher expression of the oncogene c-myc suggests the
activation of mitogenic signals within hyperplastic prostate tissue
which a relatively high expression of the proapoptotic genes bax
and fas fails to counterbalance.
Lingua originale | English |
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pagine (da-a) | 3937-3941 |
Numero di pagine | 5 |
Rivista | Anticancer Research |
Volume | 25 |
Stato di pubblicazione | Pubblicato - 2005 |
Keywords
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia, apoptosis, bcl-2, bax, fas, c-myc