[Phenotypic differences of stroma cells in benign and malignant human prostate tissues].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the stroma changes of benign and malignant human prostate tissues. METHODS: For the identification of stroma cells phenotype in human prostate cancer and benign prostate hyperplasia tissues, Masson method and immunohistochemical analysis of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), desmin, and vimentin were performed. The relative volume of intratumor stroma (0%, Grade 0; 1% - 33%, Grade 1; 34% - 66%, Grade 2; 67% - 100%, Grade 3) were quantified and analyzed in local and advanced prostate cancer tissues. RESULTS: Stroma myofibroblasts in prostate cancer were stained green by Masson staining and showed a co-expression of α-SMA and vimentin without an expression of desmin. It was significantly different from smooth muscle cells in benign prostate hyperplasia stained red and co-expressing a-SMA and desmin. Statistical analysis showed that high stroma volume (Grade 2/3) in advanced prostate cancer were significantly higher than that in an early stage of prostate cancer (83% vs 55%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Significant phenotypic differences of stroma cells existed in benign and malignant human prostate tissues. A high expression of myofibroblasts in advanced prostate cancer may play an important role in cancer progression. And its clinical significance should raise a high alert.

[Tadalafil for ED after transurethral resection of the prostate: a report of 113 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of tadalafil in the treatment of ED after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). METHODS: A total of 113 patients with ED after TURP received 3 months of tadalafil treatment and were followed up for 6 months. The IIEF-5 scores of the patients and the number of successful penile intromissions and sustained penile erections in the patients' sexual life diary were compared before and after the treatment. RESULTS: The IIEF-5 scores were 9.83 +/- 3.96 before the medication, 20.23 +/- 3.25 after it, and 17.28 +/- 3.03 at 6 months after drug withdrawal, with statistically significant differences between pre- and post-treatment (P < 0.05). The patients' success rates of penile intromission and sexual intercourse were increased from 44.8% and 7.5% before the medication to 81.7% and 63.2% after it. CONCLUSION: Tadalafil can be used as a first-line drug for the treatment of ED after TURP.

[Correlation between metabolic syndrome and clinical progression in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlation between metabolic syndrome and clinical progression in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS: A total of 382 BPH patients with lower urinary tract symptoms were divided into two groups according to whether or not there was a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome (MS). MS was defined by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in 2005. Abdominal B-ultrasound was used to measure the total volume of prostate (TP) and its average annual growth rate was calculated. Body mass index, waist-hip ratio, blood biochemistry, blood pressure, blood glucose and other indicators were compared in these two groups of patients with regards to the clinical progression associated with BPH. RESULTS: A total of 187 MS cases were found in 382 (48.59%) BPH patients. It showed a higher body mass index, high glycemia, high triglycerides, high blood pressure and high IPSS, TP and PSA levels. Also it showed a higher occurrence of surgical rate (P < 0.05); its average annual growth rate of TP was significantly higher than those without MS (1.0 vs 0.64 ml/yr, P < 0.05). TP average annual growth rate and IPSS score are found significantly correlated with blood glucose and triglyceride levels (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Metabolic syndrome affects the clinical progression in patients with BPH. Clinical attention should be paid.

[Clinical value of aneusomy of chromosomes in exfoliated urothelial cells to predict the recurrence of superficial bladder cancer after complete transurethral resection].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the chromosomal karyotype aberrations of exfoliated urothelial cells in superficial bladder cancer patients and the correlation thereof to recurrence of carcinoma. METHODS: Voided urine samples were collected from 42 patients with pathologically confirmed recurrent bladder cancer and 24 bladder cancer patients without pathologically confirmed recurrence, all of which had undergone complete transurethral resection and had been followed up for more than 3 years. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used with Spectrum Green to label the chromosome 7 and Spectrum Red to label the chromosome 17 of the exfoliated urothelial cells. RESULTS: The aneuploidy rates of chromosomes 7 and 17 were 48.5% (32/66) and 50.0% (33/66) respectively, and the co-aneuploidy rate of chromosomes 7 and 17 was 25.8% (17/66). In the patients with G(2/3) superficial bladder cancer, the aneuploidy rate of chromosomes 17 of those with recurrence was 64.3%, significantly higher than that of patients without recurrence (22.2%, P < 0.05). However, there were not significant differences in the aneuploidy rates of chromosomes 7 and 17 in the pT(a) and pT(1) superficial bladder cancer patients with or without recurrence (all P > 0.05), however, the co-aneuploidy rate of chromosomes 7 and 17 of the patients with recurrence was 47.8%, significantly higher than that of the patients without recurrence (12.5%, P < 0.05). Fourteen of the 42 patients with recurrence showed progression, i.e., with increased grade or stage (>/= pT(2)). The aneuploidy rates of chromosomes 7 and 17 of these 14 patients were 78.6% and 92.9% respectively, both significantly higher than those of the 28 patients without progression (42.9% and 46.4% respectively, both P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Abnormality in the chromosomes in exfoliated urothelial cells of superficial bladder cancer patients using FISH technique helps predict recurrence and progression of the cancer.

[PI-3K and p38MAPK pathways upregulate the epidermal growth factor induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression in PC-3 cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of PI-3K and p38MAPK signal pathways on the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression induced by the epidermal growth factor (EGF) in PC-3 cells. METHODS: PC-3 cell proliferation was detected by methylthiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay after stimulated by EGF (0 microg/L), EGF (10 microg/L), EGF (10 microg/L) + LY294002 (20 micromol/L) and EGF (10 microg/L) + SC203580 (20 micromol/L), and so was the COX-2 expression in the PC-3 cells by RT-PCR and Western blot assay after stimulated the same way for 24 hours. ELISA was used to determine the changes of PGE2 in the culture medium. RESULTS: LY294002 and SC203580 signficantly inhibited PC-3 cell proliferation (P < 0.05), COX-2 expression and PGE2 production after EGF stimulation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: EGF can stimulate PC-3 cells into proliferation and induce COX-2 mRNA and the upregulation of its protein expression, while LY294002 and SC203580 can inhibit EGF from the above effects on PC-3 cells.

Intensity of stromal changes is associated with tumor relapse in clinically advanced prostate cancer after castration therapy.

Reactive stromal changes in prostate cancer (PCa) are likely involved in the emergence of castration-resistant PCa (CRPC). This study was designed to investigate stromal changes in patients with clinically advanced PCa and analyze their prognostic significance. Prostate needle biopsies obtained from 148 patients before castration therapy were analyzed by Masson trichrome staining and immunohistochemical analysis of vimentin and desmin. Reactive stroma grading was inversely correlated with Gleason score. Stroma grade (Masson stain 82.8% vs 45.6%, P < 0.001) and vimentin expression (P = 0.005) were significantly higher, and desmin expression (P = 0.004) significantly lower, in reactive stroma of tumors with a Gleason score of 6-7 than in adjacent peritumoral tissue. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significant association between reactive stroma grade in tumors and the occurrence of CRPC in patients with a Gleason score of 6-7 (P = 0.009). Furthermore, patients with higher vimentin or lower desmin expression had a shorter disease-free period. In multivariate analysis, only vimentin expression was a significant predictor of tumor relapse (hazard ratio 1.78, 95% confidence interval 1.12-10.26, P = 0.012). These findings indicate that the intensity of reactive stroma is associated with castration responsiveness, especially in patients with a lower Gleason score where the abundant stroma component is most frequently found. High expression of vimentin in tumor stroma was independently associated with poor outcomes in patients with Gleason scores of 6-7, and may serve as a new prognostic marker in daily practice.