RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prognostic value of the expression of Ki-67, p53, and Notch1 in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Surgical and diagnostic materials obtained from patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate intraepithelial neoplasia, and prostate cancer of different grades underwent studies; a total of 98 patients were examined. Cell antigens were determined using rabbit anti-Ki-67 monoclonal antibodies (Clone SP6), mouse anti-p53 monoclonal antibodies (Clone Y5), and recombinant anti-Notch1 antibodies (Clone EP1238Y). RESULTS: Comparing Ki-67, p53, and Notch1 expression indices revealed statistically significant differences. There was a significant direct correlation between Ki-67 and p53 expression indices and prostate cancer grade groups based on the morphological Gleason grading system (rs=0.736; p<0.001; rs=0.682; p=0.035, respectively) and a strong inverse correlation between Notch1 expression and prostate cancer grade groups (rs= -0.425, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Notch1 expression in conjunction with the low proliferative activity of cells and the absence of p53 (Y5) protein may suggest that the mechanism of apoptosis is preserved in tumor cells, which expands indications for medical treatment of prostate cancer.