Immunoexpression of Claudins -3, -4 and -7 in prostate adenocarcinomas.

Claudins are a family of essential tight junction proteins, abnormally expressed in human carcinomas. The studies that indicated the involvement of claudins in tumor biology and progression suggest the possibility of their utility as markers for diagnosis or prognosis, but also as possible targets for therapy. We investigated 50 prostate adenocarcinomas (PAs) for which we followed the expression of Claudins -3, -4 and -7 in relation to International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grades. We observed the positivity for Claudin-3, Claudin-4, and Claudin-7 in 76%, 74% and 46% of cases. Analysis of the immunoexpression pattern revealed the cytoplasmic and nuclear translocation for Claudins -3 and -4, and only cytoplasmic for Claudin-7. For all claudins investigated, we noted a final staining score with significantly higher values or at the limit of statistical significance for PA belonging to ISUP groups 1-4. The internalization of Claudins -3, -4 and -7 expression, regardless of the degree of PA, indicates their involvement in prostate carcinogenesis. In addition, the similar immunoexpression patterns of the three investigated claudins and their positive linear correlation suggest a coordinated regulation and indicate the possibility of a targeted treatment strategy.

Histopathological Study of the Prostate Cancer Growth Patterns in Relation with the Grading Systems.

Prostate adenocarcinomas are common lesions with a high incidence and variable prognosis, which can be assessed using tumor grading systems. In this study, we analyzed 329 prostate adenocarcinomas in relation to tumor variants, growth patterns, classical and updated grading systems. The study indicated statistical associations of atrophic, pseudohyperplastic and microcystic variants with low grading scores, the associations of glomeruloid, cribriform with or without necrosis and signet ring-like cell variants with high grading scores, and also of single growth patterns with intermediate scores, which supports the accordance and usefulness of existing grading systems for the identification of aggressive prostate tumor lesions.

Ezrin Immunoexpression in Prostate Adenocarcinomas.

Ezrin is a component of cell surface structures, the most important member of the Ezrin/radixin/moesin family. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the expression of ezrin in 50 cases of prostate carcinoma (PA) in relation to the ISUP (International Society of Urological Pathology) groups. Ezrin expression analysis was identified in 78% of the PA cases investigated, with predominantly cytoplasmic staining pattern and variable intensity. Overall, we observed an increase in the intensity of the immunostaining progressively with the decrease in cell differentiation. Statistical analysis indicated the predominance of high FSS in the ISUP 4-5 groups and low FSS in the ISUP 1-2 groups, aspects that were statistically significant. Ezrin was expressed in the majority of PAs analyzed and its expression was associated with ISUP grades, an aspect that suggests involvement in PA progression.