LC3A蛋白在前列腺癌中的表达及意义

目的:探讨LC3A蛋白在前列腺癌中的表达及意义。方法:应用免疫组化方法检测LC3A在54例前列腺癌和14例良性前列腺增生(BPH)中的表达状况。结果:LC3A蛋白阳性信号定位于细胞质和/或细胞核,在前列腺癌中胞质强阳性率为90.7%,在BPH中的胞质强阳性率为14.3%,两组差异有显著性(P0.01);并发现前列腺癌中22例核着色(40.7%),LC3A胞质表达与细胞核表达无相关性(P0.05)。LC3A表达与Gleason评分呈正相关(胞质r=0.297,P=0.029;胞核r=0.288,P=0.034)。LC3A与患者的临床分期、年龄、雄激素受体(AR)及术前患者血清PSA及结合PSA(cPSA)水平均无相关性(P0.05)。LC3A在前列腺癌及BPH组织间质中的纤维细胞及平滑肌细胞也见着色。AR在前列腺癌中阳性率为74.1%(40/54),在BPH的阳性率为64.3%(9/14)。两者阳性率差异无统计学意义。结论:LC3A可能与前列腺癌的发生、分化及预后有关。

Expression of the LC3A protein in prostate cancer and its implications

Objective： To investigate the expression of the LC3A protein in prostate cancer （PCa） and its clinicopathological significance. Methods ： We detected the expression of the LC3A protein by immunohistochemistry in 54 cases of PCa and 14 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia （BPH）, and analyzed the correlation between the LC3A expression and the clinicopathological parameters in PCa. Results ： The positive signals of the LC3A protein were located in the cytoplasm and/or cell nuclei. The rate of its strongly positive expression was 90.7% in PCa, significantly higher than 14.3% in BPH （P 〈0.01 ）. The LC3A expression was also found in the cell nuclei of 22 cases of PCa, with no significant correlation to that in the cytoplasm （P 〉0.05）. The expression of LC3A was significantly correlated with Gleason scores （ r = 0. 297, P = 0. 029 in cytoplasm ; r = 0. 288, P = 0. 034 in cell nuclei）, but not with the clinical stage, patient＇s age, androgen receptor （AR） level and preoperative levels of serum PSA and cPSA （all P 〉 0.05）. LC3A was also expressed in the fibrocytes and smooth muscle cells in PCa and BPH. The positive rate of AR was 74.1% （40/54） in PCa and 64.3 % （9/14） in BPH, with no significant difference between the two groups （P 〉 0. 05 ）. Conclusion ： The expression of the LC3A protein might be involved in the development, differentiation, and prognosis of prostate cancer.