RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Recent evidence suggests a role for the insulin-like growth factor-1Ec (IGF-IEc) transcript variant in cancer biology. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether IGF-IEc expression is associated with prostate cancer stage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded prostate cancer surgical specimens from 83 patients were assessed by immunohistochemistry for IGF-IEc expression. RESULTS: Normal prostate epithelium was negative or demonstrated mild IGF-IEc cytoplasmic expression whereas prostate cancer exhibited mild to strong cytoplasmic immunoexpression. The mean IGF-1Ec expression, was significantly lower (p=0.004) in localized (stage ≤ IIb) prostate cancer, compared to locally advanced tumors (stage ≥ III). Only one out of 83 (1.2%) prostate cancer samples was completely negative for IGF-IEc. A weak-positive correlation was also observed between IGF-IEc expression levels and Gleason score (r=0.247; p=0.024). CONCLUSION: The present data demonstrate that the expression of IGF-IEc is positively-associated with more advanced stage and higher Gleason score of prostate carcinomas.