Caspase-3/CPP32 immunoreactivity and its correlation with frequency of apoptotic bodies in human prostatic carcinomas and benign nodular hyperplasias

J. H. Sohn, D. H. Kim, N. G. Choi, Y. E. Park, J. Y. Ro

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aims: Apoptosis is mediated by apoptosis-specific genes, certain oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes. Caspase-3, a group of cystein proteases, is involved in the induction of apoptosis and has been considered to correlate with apoptosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether caspase-3 is expressed in prostatic carcinoma and benign prostatic hyperplasia, and correlated with the apoptosis. Methods and results: We studied the apoptotic index and caspase-3 immunoreactivity in 40 cases of benign nodular hyperplasia (BPH) and 40 cases of prostate carcinoma (PCA) by in-situ labelling and immunohistochemistry. The mean number of apoptotic bodies in cases with BPH was not significantly different from cases with PCA I (Gleason score 2-4), but samples from patients with PCA II (Gleason score 5-7) and PCA III (Gleason score 8-10) showed a significantly higher apoptotic number than cases with BPH. Positive staining for caspase-3 was seen in 42.5% (17/40) of the BPH, and 27.5% (11/40) of the PCA: PCA I was 41.7% (5/12). PCA II 14.3% (2/14) and PCA III was 28.6% (4/14). Conclusions: Based on our results, the number of apoptotic bodies was not correlated with the caspase-3 expression and there was no relationship between caspase-3 expression and Gleason score. However, the number of apoptotic bodies was significantly higher in cases with intermediate (Gleason score 5-7) and high-grade (Gleason score 8-10) PCAs than cases with BPH and low-grade PCAs (Gleason score 2-4).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)555-560
Number of pages6
JournalHistopathology
Volume37
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2000

Keywords

  • Apoptosis
  • Caspase-3
  • Gleason score
  • Prostatic carcinoma

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Anatomy
  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine
  • Cell Biology

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