| Objective: Some studies have shown that in human breast cancer, the expression of Maspin gene is negatively related to OerbB-2 gene. To the best of our knowledge the relationship between Maspin and OerbB-2 in prostate cancer has not previously been documented. This study was designed to observe and study the expression of Maspin and C-erbB-2 and their association with pathological features and clinical outcome in prostate cancer. In this study Maspin expression in comparison with C-erbB-2 oncogene expression was investigated preliminarily.Methods: The examined material which was from Tianjin medical university the NO. 2 hospital included specimens of 50 cases of prostate cancer, 20 cases of benign prostatic hyerplasia and 30 cases of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasm . They were analyzed immunohistochemically to assess Maspin and C-erbB-2 expression. The level of Maspin and C-erbB-2 expression in 50 prostate cancers was analyzed against cTNM stage, histological grade, serum PSA status, metastasis and survival over a median 95 months follow-up period.Results: The percentage of Maspin positively expression decreased from benign prostatic hyerplasia (90%) to prostatic intraepithelial neoplasm (80%) to prostate cancer (44%), ( x~2 = 55.972 , p<0.05). Although statistically insignificant, Maspin expression showed decreasing tendency with the increase of clinical stage (r., = — 0. 014, p<0. 05). Statistically negative correlation was found between Maspin and histological grade(r_s= — 0. 288, p<0. 05). The expression level of Maspin in prostate cancer was related negatively with serum PSA (rs=— 0. 422, P<0. 05) . The percentage of OerbB-2 oncogene positively expression increased from benign prostatic hyerplasia (33%) to prostatic intraepithelial neoplasm (50%) to prostate cancer (90%), ( x2=18. 513, p<0. 05). Statistically significant correlation was found between OerbB-2 expression and histological grade(r? = 0. 554, p<0. 05). Positive correlation was found between OerbB-2 expression and clinical stage(0.403,p<0.05). The expression level of Maspin in prostate cancer was positively related with PSA ( rs = 0. 414, P<0. 05 ) . Analysis of the dependence between Maspin and OerbB-2 expression exhibited statistically inverse correlation in prostate cancer (r, = — 0. 352, p<0. 05). In BPH and PIN no relation between Maspin and OerbB-2 was found(r?=—0. 275^ 0. 013, P>0. 05). Among the 50 cases of cancer, 16 happened far metastasis and the other 34 did not, and the level of Maspin expression of far metastasis group lower than that of non-far metastasis group(rs = —0. 325, p<0. 05). The level of OerbB-2 expression of far metastasis group was higher than that of non-far metastasis group(rs = 0. 461, p<0. 05). The overall survival rate in Maspin positive groups are higher than that in Maspin negative group ( x 2=5. 55, P<0. 05).Conclusion:In conclusion, it could be stated that increase in Maspin expression is associated with weaker expression of OerbB-2 oncogene, which implies a significant role of Maspin in tumor biologic behavior. However, the exact mechanism of Maspin action (including its potential role in angiogenesis), as well as the assessment of its prognostic significance in prostate cancer require further studies. |
