Cell Proliferation and Epithelia Profile in Prostate Cancer and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Prostate cancer (PCa) and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) are the leading cause of urinary tract disorders in males both of which are characterized by rapid proliferation of cells. This study characterizes both Ki-67 and E-Cadherin profiles in BPH and PCa biopsies to determine and compare the extent of aggressiveness of cell proliferation in BPH and PCa.

Method: Biopsies were collected from patients clinically diagnosed to be suffering from PCa or BPH and were immunohistochemically labelled using Anti-Ki-67 and Anti-ECAD monoclonal antibodies. The sections were treated with urea followed by incubation in a microwave to activate the antigens. Primary antibody treatment was done in biotinylated goat serum, blocking was done with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and finally secondary antibody staining using Anti-Ki- 67 and Anti-ECAD monoclonal antibodies.

Results: The expression level of Ki-67 corresponded to the rate of proliferation and size of the tumor cell mass in both PCa and BPH. ECAD expression was highly positive in BPH and less positive in PCa- showing onset of malignancy in PCa. Certain cell clumps (metastases) stained highly positive to Ki-67 and were located at random intervals within the tissue of PCa biopsies, this type of distribution also coincided with ECAD immunonegativity.

Conclusion: Ki-67 expression indicates the rate of cell proliferation and the aggressiveness of such tumors, while ECAD shows defective cytoskeleton and extent of malignancy. Correlating ECAD and Ki-67 gives a direct relationship between the rate of cell division, tumor invasion and epithelia structure. This also covers both glandular and fibromuscular epithelium.

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