TMPRSS2／ERG融合基因检测在前列腺癌诊断中的临床应用研究

目的：通过比较TMPRss2／ERG融合基因与前列腺癌各项诊断指标的关系,评估荧光原位杂交技术（FISH）诊断和鉴别诊断前列腺癌的临床应用价值。方法：分别对44例前列腺癌及12例BPH石蜡切片行FIsH检测TMPRSS2和ETS（ERG、ETVl及ETV4）基因融合现象,比较两种疾病发生基因融合的情况,并分析前列腺癌标本中TMPRSS2／ETS基因融合改变和前列腺癌各项诊断指标的关系。结果：在44例前列腺癌标本中,26例（59．1％）检测到MPRSS2／ERG融合基因,4例（9．1％）检测到MPRSS2／ETVl融合基因;l例（2．3％）检测到MPRSS2／ETV4融合基因。20例BPH标本均未检测到基因融合现象。FISH诊断前列腺癌的敏感性为70．5％,特异性为100％。TMPRSS2／ETS基因融合状态异常与Gleason评分和ECT呈正相关,相关系数分别为0．383（P=0．001）和0,309（P=0．041）;MPRSS2／ETS基因异常发生率与DRE和TRUS的阳性检出率无关联（P〉0．05）。结论：FISH技术检测TMPRss2／ETs（ERG、ETVl、ETV4）融合基因在诊断前列腺癌中具有较高的敏感性和特异性,有助于早期前列腺癌的诊断和鉴别诊断。     

尿沉淀细胞中TMPRSS2-ETS融合基因对诊断前列腺癌的意义

目的：检测尿沉淀细胞中TMPRSS2-ETS融合基因对诊断前列腺癌的意义。方法：将2010～2011年我院收治的经病理检查证实为前列腺癌者归为前列腺癌组,经病理检查证实为BPH者归为BPH组。收集两组患者前列腺按摩后首次尿液标本,用FISH检测其TMPRSS2-ERG、TMPRSS2ETVl和TMPRSS2-ETV4融合基因的表达。结果：纳入本次研究的前列腺癌组和BPH组分别为51例和20例,TMPRSS2-ERG（＋）的病例分别为26例（50．98％）和4例（20％）,差异有显著统计学意义（P〈O．05）。其敏感度为50．98％,特异度为80％,假阳性率为20％,假阴性率为49．02％,阳性似然比为2．549,阴性似然比为0．613,Youden指数为0．3098。两组中均未发现有TMPRSS2-ETVl或TMPRSS2-ETV4融合基因阳性患者。结论：用FISH方法检测尿沉淀细胞TMPRSS2-ERG融合基因有助于区分前列腺癌与BPH。TMPRSS2-ETV1和TMPRSS2-ETV4融合基因在前列腺癌中出现率较低,故不推荐用于前列腺癌的诊断检测。     

前列腺癌增殖细胞核抗原表达的意义

目的：研究前列腺癌增殖细胞核抗原的意义表达。方法：应用HE染色、免疫组化染色、光学显微镜观察对20例前列腺癌和15例正常前列腺组织中增殖细胞核抗原（PCNA）表达进行检测。结果：前列腺癌中增殖细胞核抗原的表达明显高于正常前列腺组织。结论：PCNA是判断肿瘤细胞增殖程度的重要指标，对估计前列腺癌的分化、转移及预后具有重要参考价值。     

前列腺癌组织中Cx43和Survivin的表达及相关性研究

目的探讨间隙连接蛋白43（Cx43）和Survivin蛋白在前列腺癌组织中表达的相关性。方法应用免疫组织化学方法检测95例前列腺癌标本和20例前列腺增生标本中Cx43和Survivin蛋白的表达。结果Cx43和Survivin蛋白在前列腺癌标本中的阳性表达率分别为49．47％、76．84％,在前列腺增生标本中的表达分别为100％、0．00％,二者在上述两组织中的表达差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。Cx43和Survivin蛋白在前列腺癌不同预后分组中的差异表达分别具有统计学意义（均P〈0．01）。相关性分析显示,前列腺癌中Cx43和Survivin的表达呈负相关（P〈0．01）。结论Cx43和Survivin蛋白在前列腺癌中的表达呈负相关,它们在前列腺癌的发生发展中具有重要作用,联合检测两蛋白分子对于判断前列腺癌的预后具有重要意义。     

间隙连接蛋白43在前列腺癌不同预后分组中的表达和临床意义

目的研究间隙连接蛋白43（Cx43）在前列腺癌不同预后分组中的表达差异,探讨其作为评价前列腺癌预后生物标记物的临床应用价值。方法将136例前列腺癌患者按不同预后分为3组,应用免疫组化方法检测其组织标本及20例前列腺增生标本中Cx43蛋白的表达情况,用统计学方法分析各组表达差异是否有统计学意义。结果 Cx43在前列腺癌中的表达率只有52.94%,明显低于其在前列腺增生中的100%（P〈0.01）,且不同预后分组间的表达率（低危组88.24%、中危组61.70%、高危组38.89%）差异有显著统计学意义（P〈0.01）。结论 Cx43在前列腺癌中的表达显著降低,并且前列腺癌预后越差Cx43的表达越低。Cx43可作为评价前列腺癌生物学行为及判定前列腺癌预后的生物学标记物。     

PTEN蛋白和VEGF在前列腺癌组织中的表达及其临床意义

目的：探讨第10号染色体缺失的磷酸酶和张力蛋白同源物基因（PTEN）与血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）在前列腺癌组织中的表达及其临床意义。方法：应用免疫组织化学S-P法检测39例前列腺癌（Pca组）组织和20例BPH（对照组）组织中PTEN和VEGF的表达。结果：PTEN蛋白在PCa组和BPH组中阳性率分别为38．46％（15／39）和100％（20／20），两组差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）；VEGF在PCa组和BPH组中阳性率分别为56．41％（22／39）和25％（5／20），两组差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）；PTEN蛋白的表达与前列腺癌患者临床分期和病理分级呈负相关（P％0．05），与年龄无显著相关性；而VEGF的表达则与前述临床、病理特征呈正相关（P〈0．05），前列腺癌组织中PTEN蛋白与VEGF表达呈密切负相关（r=-0．735，P〈0．01）。结论：PTEN蛋白低表达和VEGF高表达在前列腺癌的发生、发展中起重要作用。PTEN蛋白和VEGF可作为判断前列腺癌生物学行为的重要指标，联合检测PTEN蛋白和VEGF的表达水平有助于前列腺癌患者病情判断及预后评估。     

类固醇受体辅活化子-1和核受体辅阻遏子在雄激素非依赖性前列腺癌的表达及临床意义

目的 探讨类固醇受体辅活化子-1（SRC-1）、核受体辅阻遏子（NCoR）在雄激素非依赖性前列腺癌（AIPC）的表达及临床意义。方法 采用免疫组化法检测20例激素依赖性前列腺癌（ADPC）、15例AIPC组织AR、SRC-1及NCoR表达。结果 1例AIPC无AR表达，其余AIPC及ADPC高表达AR。AIPC、ADPC均检测到SRC-1表达。SRC-1在AIPC的阳性率较ADPC组织明显升高（P〈0．01）。NCoR在AIPC、ADPC均有表达，但在AIPC的表达则出现明显降低（P〈0．01）。结论 SRC-1在AIPC表达升高和／或NCoR在AIPC表达降低引起的AR异常活化可能与前列腺癌（Pca）的进展有关。     

血小板反应素-1在前列腺癌患者中的表达及意义

摘要：目的探讨血小板反应素1（TsP一1）在前列腺癌患者癌组织及其外周血中的表达及其意义。方法应用免疫组化技术检测TSP-1在前列腺癌组织（前列腺癌组）中的表达;以半定量RTPCR技术检测TSP-lmRNA在患者外周血中的表达,并与前列腺增生患者（前列腺增生组）进行比较。结果前列腺癌组TSP-1阴性表达6例,弱阳性表达16例,阳性表达4例,增生组TSP-1弱阳性表达12例,阳性表达16例,无阴性表达,前列腺癌组TSP-1表达强度较增生组显著降低（P〈O．01）;TSP-1mRNA在前列腺癌组织中较前列腺增生组织中表达明显下调（P〈0．01）。TSPlmRNA在前列腺癌组外周血中的表达较增生组明显下调（P〈o．01）。结论TSP-1基因及蛋白表达水平在前列腺癌组织中明显下调,在前列腺癌患者外周血中表达水平明显下调。     

前列腺癌组织中Skp2、PTEN的表达及临床意义

目的：探讨Skp2和第10号染色体缺失的磷酸酶和张力蛋白同源物基因（Phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10．PTEN）在前列腺癌中的表达及临床意义。方法：用免疫组织化学EnVision^TM办法检测Skp2和PTEN蛋白在41例前列腺癌和20例BPH组织中的表达情况。结果：在前列腺癌中的Skp2蛋白染色阳性率显著高于BPH（P〈0．01）,Skp2蛋白表达与前列腺癌术前血清前列腺特异抗原（PSA）水平、局部浸润、肿瘤分期、病理分级呈密切正相关（P〈0．05）。在前列腺癌中的PTEN蛋白染色阳性率显著低于BPH（P〈0．01）,PTEN蛋白表达与上述临床病理特征呈负相关（P〈0．05）。前列腺癌中Skp2蛋白与PTEN蛋白表达呈负相关（P〈0．01）。结论：Skp2蛋白在前列腺癌的发生发展中起重要作用,抑癌基因PTEN可能参与Skp2表达的调节。     

前列腺癌患者外周血中CD4^＋CD25^high调节性T细胞及调节因子TGF-β1和COX-2的表达

目的：通过检测前列腺癌患者以及健康志愿者外周血中CD4＋CD25high调节性T细胞、TGF-β1及COX-2的表达,初步探讨CD4＋CD25high调节性T细胞在前列腺癌发病机制中的作用及其与TGF-β1和COX-2的相关性。方法：应用流式细胞术检测30例前列腺癌患者治疗前后（其中前列腺癌局限组11例,非局限组19例）及20例健康志愿者外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）中CD4＋CD25high调节性T细胞占CD4＋T细胞的比例;应用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）检测其外周血清中TGF-β1和COX-2的表达。对前列腺癌患者上述指标进行术前术后对比分析,另对CD4＋CD25high调节性T细胞与TGF-β1及COX-2的相关性进行分析;并探讨上述指标在前列腺癌患者局限组和非局限组间是否存在差异性。结果：流式细胞术检测显示,前列腺癌患者治疗前PBMC中CD4＋CD25high调节性T细胞占CD4＋T细胞的比例为（18.32±7.49）%,高于健康志愿者对照组（7.77±1.86）%（P〈0.05）。前列腺癌患者治疗后其比值为（17.34±5.87）%,较治疗前稍减低,但两者相比无显著差异（P〉0.05）。ELISA检测外周血清中TGF-β1和COX-2显示,前列腺癌组分别为（215.97±55.16）ng/ml和（6.88±5.14）ng/ml,对照组分别为（149.75±47.11）ng/ml和（5.65±2.69）ng/ml;前列腺癌患者外周血清中TGF-β1的表达水平高于健康志愿者对照组（P〈0.05）,COX-2的表达水平与对照组无显著差异（P〉0.05）。通过多重线性回归分析表明,前列腺癌患者PBMC中CD4＋CD25high调节性T细胞的表达与血清中TGF-β1和COX-2的表达无显著相关。前列腺癌局限组和非局限组外周血中CD4＋CD25high调节性T细胞、TGF-β1及COX-2的表达均无显著性差异（P〉0.05）。结论：前列腺癌患者PBMC中CD4＋CD25high调节性T细胞可能参与前列腺癌的发生,其增殖机制与血清中TGF-β1和COX-2的表达无关,可能与肿瘤本身及肿瘤局部微环境相关。     

p53和VEGF在前列腺癌组织中的表达及临床意义

目的研究p53和血管内皮生长因子（vascular endothelial growthfactor,VEGF）在同一前列腺癌（prostate cancer,Pca）组织中的表达及与Pca临床参数的关系,探讨肿瘤血管形成及调节机制。方法应用免疫组织化学LDP法检测46例Pca组织及20例良性前列腺增生症（benign prostatic hyperplasia,BPH）组织中p53蛋白及VEGF的表达。结果Pca组织中p53与VEGF阳性表达率分别为41.30%（19/46）和71.74%（33/46）,均明显高于BPH组（P〈0.05）;p53与VEGF表达呈明显正相关（P〈0.05）;二者在Pca组织中的表达水平与其病理分级和临床分期均呈正相关（P〈0.05）;p53和VEGF阳性表达的肿瘤复发迅速、易转移,p53阴性而VEGF阳性表达较阴性表达者预后差。结论p53和VEGF与Pca组织学分级？恶性程度和预后密切相关,是检测Pca的较好分子标志物;Pca是典型的血管依赖性病变,p53可能通过p53-VEGF调节旁路途径促进Pca的肿瘤血管形成,联合检测p53和VEGF的表达可作为判断Pca生物学行为及预后的重要指标。     

蛋白激酶Cε在前列腺癌组织中表达的临床意义

目的 探讨蛋白激酶C ε(PKCε)在不同病理类型前列腺组织中的表达及与前列腺癌病理分级、分期的关系。 方法 正常前列腺(NP)组织标本10例、前列腺增生(BPH)组织标本10例、癌旁(PC)组织标本10例、前列腺癌(PCa)组织标本43例。免疫组化法检测各组织中PKCε的表达情况,分析PKCε表达与不同病理类型及PCa分级、分期的关系。 结果 PCa组PKCε表达阳性27例,BPH组无阳性表达,NP组1例,PC组2例,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。PCa组Gleason评分≥8分组中PKCε表达阳性12/13例,2～4分组4/10例,5～7分组11/20例,组间差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。T3期PKCε表达阳性10/12例,T4期9/10例,T1、T2期分别为1/6例和7/15例,高分期与低分期组PKCε表达差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。PCa转移组PKCε表达阳性9/10例,未转移组18/33例,组间差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。PCa患者血清PSA≤20 ng/ml者PKCε表达阳性7/15例,＞20 ng/ml组20/18例,组间差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05)。 结论 PCa组织中PKCε的表达率较高,并且与PCa病理分级、分期呈正相关,临床上可考虑作为PCa预后因子之一。     

HGPIN患者血清PSA特征及首次穿刺活检HGPIN阳性针数对再次活检PCa检出率的影响

目的 探讨高级别前列腺上皮内瘤(high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia,HGPIN)患者血清前列腺特异性抗原(prostate specific antigen,PSA)特征及首次穿刺活检HGPIN阳性针数对再次活检前列腺癌(PCa)检测率的影响.方法 选取2013年2月至2015年12月在本院行前列腺穿刺的患者共320例,均行直肠超声引导下前列腺穿刺活检,分析各类患者血清PSA差异,对结果为非PCa患者于6个月后再次穿刺活检.结果 320例患者首次穿刺活检病理结果显示:其中HGPIN患者80例(孤立型51例,多灶型29例),低级别前列腺上皮内瘤(LGPIN)患者45例,前列腺增生(BPH)患者128例,PCa患者67例;其中PCa患者血清PSA为35.20(13.01,60.55) ng/mL,明显高于BPH、LGPIN、孤立型和多灶型HGPIN患者(P＜0.05);多灶型HGPIN血清PSA为12.15(6.82,16.43) ng/mL,明显高于BPH、LGPIN、孤立型HGPIN患者(P＜0.05);BPH、LGPIN、孤立型HGPIN患者血清PSA比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05);多灶性HGPIN患者再次穿刺为PCa的比例为38.46％ (10/26),明显高于BPH、LGPIN和孤立型HG-PIN患者(P＜0.05);BPH、LGPIN和孤立型HGPIN再次穿刺为PCa的比例比较差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 多灶型HGPIN血清PSA水平高于孤立型HGPIN、BPH以及LGPIN,但低于PCa;多灶型HGPIN患者再次活检PCa的检出率显著高于其他患者.     

Thrombospondin-1, vascular endothelial growth factor expression and their relationship with p53 status in prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the expression of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1, a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF, an important angiogenic factor in solid tumours) in prostate cancer, and their relationship with p53 status. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry, the expression of VEGF, TSP-1 and p53 was assessed in 82 archival tissue specimens from 23 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 22 with localized prostate cancer and 37 with metastatic prostate cancer. Seven of the last group had received androgen deprivation therapy. The relationship between the expression of VEGF, TSP-1 and p53 status was also evaluated with tumour grade and stage in patients with prostate cancer. RESULTS: The seven patients receiving hormonal treatment were excluded from the analysis because androgen deprivation significantly increased TSP-1 and decreased VEGF expression (both P < 0.01). Immunohistochemical analysis showed significantly higher VEGF and significantly lower TSP-1 expression (both P < 0.01) in prostate cancer than in BPH tissues. There was also significantly higher VEGF and significantly lower TSP-1 expression (both P < 0.05) in tissues from metastatic than localized prostate cancer. There was no significant correlation between VEGF or TSP-1 expression and Gleason score, but a significant inverse correlation between TSP-1 and VEGF expression. There was a significant association between VEGF expression and p53 status (P < 0.05), but TSP-1 expression was not associated with p53 status. CONCLUSIONS: Angiogenic factors, including VEGF and TSP-1, might be important in the development and progression of prostate cancer. These changes seem to be influenced by p53 status. Identifying the angiogenic factors involved in prostate cancer might lead to the development of diagnostic or therapeutic strategies based on anti-angiogenesis.     

低氧诱导因子1α及血管内皮生长因子在前列腺癌中的表达及意义

目的:观察低氧诱导因子1α(H IF-1α)及血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)在前列腺癌(PCa)中的表达及意义。方法:32例PCa患者,根据G leason评分,将≥7分者设为高G leason评分组(n=12),<7分者为低G leason评分组(n=20)。良性前列腺增生(BPH)16例,BPH伴高级别前列腺上皮内瘤(PIN)15例,正常前列腺组织(NP)12例。采用免疫组化染色CD34观察各组组织中微血管密度(MVD)及H IF-1α、VEGF的表达情况。结果:PCa、PIN中H IF-1α阳性表达率分别为62.5%、60.0%,较BPH(6.3%)及NP(0)高,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。PCa、PIN中VEGF阳性表达率分别为78.1%、73.3%,较BPH(18.7%)及NP(8.3%)高,差异亦有统计学意义(P<0.05)。PCa的MVD为66.9±18.0,明显高于BPH(28.3±6.9)及NP(15.3±2.9)(P<0.05)。高G leason评分组H IF-1α、VEGF阳性率及MVD值均高于低G leason评分组,差异均有显著性(P<0.05)。结论:H IF-1α及VEGF过表达是PCa形成的早期事件,与PCa密切相关。     

前列腺增生和癌变组织中碱性成纤维细胞生长因子的表达及其临床意义

为了探讨碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（ｂＦＧＦ）在前列腺组织中表达、分布情况及临床意义，应用免疫组化方法检测１４例正常前列腺（ＮＰ）、５６例前列腺增生症（ＢＰＨ）和３３例前列腺癌（Ｐｃａ）组织中ｂＦＧＦ的分布和表达。结果显示：ＢＰＨ中ｂＦＧＦ阳性率为６４３％，主要分布于间质细胞核，部分间质细胞浆、少数腺上皮细胞浆也见阳性染色；Ｐｃａ中ｂＦＧＦ阳性表达位于癌细胞浆，阳性率为８４８％，但ｂＦＧＦ表达强度与Ｐｃａ的病理分级、临床分期无明显关系；正常前列腺组织中ｂＦＧＦ表达均为阴性，三者之间阳性率差异有显著意义，表明ｂＦＧＦ参与ＢＰＨ、Ｐｃａ发生过程。     

Stromal cell-derived factor-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor as biomarkers for lymph node metastasis and poor cancer-specific survival in prostate cancer patients after radical prostatectomy

ObjectivesThis study aims to analyze the clinicopathologic significance of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression in human prostate cancer (CaP), and their involvement in the prognosis of CaP.Materials and methodsThe expression of SDF-1, VEGF, and MMP-9 were measured using immunohistochemistry in 148 CaP patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for clinically localized disease and in 10 samples of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).ResultsIn the CaP group, VEGF and MMP-9 were more strongly expressed in the tumor cells compared with the BPH group. High intensity SDF-1, VEGF, and MMP-9 stains in tumor areas strongly correlated with lymph node metastasis, pathologic stage, and differentiation. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that SDF-1, VEGF, and lymph node metastasis were independent prognostic factors for prostate cancer-specific survival. High levels of MMP-9, pathologic stage, and differentiation were associated with prostate cancer-specific survival in univariate analysis but the risk estimate was not significant in multivariate analysis.ConclusionsHigh expression levels of SDF-1, VEGF, and MMP-9 are more correlated with lymph node metastatic prostate carcinoma compared with non-lymph-node metastatic cancer. High expression levels of SDF-1 and VEGF strongly predict the biochemical progression in CaP patients after radical prostatectomy.     

Elevation of serum transforming growth factor-β1 Level in patients with metastatic prostate cancer

We measured serum transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-b1) levels in patients with untreated prostate cancer and compared them with other prognostic indicators, specifically serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and the Gleason histopathologic grading score. Prior to treatment, the Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure TGF-b1 concentrations directly in sera from 55 patients with prostate cancer (21 localized and 34 metastatic), 13 age-matched healthy male control subjects, and 8 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Serum TGF-b1 levels in patients with lymph node and/or distant metastases were significantly higher than in patients with localized disease (p = 0.0003), but did not differ significantly among localized cancers as to tumor extension. Ten of 11 prostate cancer patients whose serum TGF-b1 was higher than an arbitrary cut-off value of 60 ng/ml had lymph node or distant metastasis (specificity 95.20, although in 24 of 34 metastatic patients serum TGF-b1 levels were less (sensitivity 29.4%). The correlation between serum TGF-b1 and tumor grade as assessed by the Gleason scoring system was weak (r = 0.340). Moreover, serum TGF-b1 was not correlated with the serum PSA level. Interestingly, there was an inverse correlation between serum TGF-b1 in the prostate cancer patients and patient age at diagnosis (r = -0.406). These findings suggest that elevation of the serum TGF-b1 levels reflects certain malignant potentials associated with metastasis that are unpredictable by PSA and the Gleason scoring system.     

转甲状腺素蛋白在前列腺癌组织中的表达以及与分级分期的关系

目的 探讨转甲状腺素蛋白(TTR)在正常前列腺(NP),良性前列腺增生(BPH)以及前列腺癌组织(Pca)中的表达,以及其表达与Pca分期分级的关系.方法 收集我院10例NP、10例BPH以及52例Pca石蜡标本切片,经常规处理后,行TTR免疫组织化学研究.结果 TTR在81%(42/52例)Pca表达强阳性,而NP和BPH无表达强阳性(P<0.05);Gleason评分8～10分Pca94%(16/17例)TTR表达强阳性,Gleason评分2～4分Pca只有50%(5/10例)TTR表达强阳性(P<0.05);TTR在全部8例D期Pca表达强阳性,A期和B期只有33%(2/6例)和79%(19/24)表达强阳性(P<0.05).结论 TTR可能与Pca的发生有关,其在Pca中的表达与Pca分级及分期有关,有可能作为Pca预后的风险因子.     

Expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) in human prostate cancer

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have demonstrated that peroxisome proliferator activator-receptors (PPAR)-gamma is expressed in some cancer cells such as breast, lung, and gastric cancer, and its ligand induces growth arrest of these cancer cells through apoptosis. However, the expression and localization of PPARs in prostate have not been examined. In this study, PPARs expression was investigated in human prostate cancer (PC), prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and normal prostate (NP) tissues. METHODS: Tumor specimens were obtained from 156 patients with PC, 15 with PIN, 20 with BPH, and 12 patients with NP tissues. The expressions were investigated by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: Immunoreactive PPAR-alpha and -beta were significantly apparent in PC tissues. Marked expressions of PPAR-alpha and -beta were also detected in PIN, BPH, and NP groups. However, very weak or no expression of immunoreactive PPAR-gamma was found in BPH and NP cases. In contrast, we found significant expression of immunoreactive PPAR-gamma in cancer cells in PC group and in PIN group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that PPAR-gamma is induced in PC, and suggest that PPAR-gamma ligands may mediate its own potent antiproliferative effect against PC cells through differentiation.