RESUMO
BACKGROUND: We lack simple and reliable diagnostic tools to predict pathological staging as well as further progression of prostate cancer in individual cases. METHODS: We studied deletions on 8p (8p22 and 8p23-pter), 10q (10q24-qter), and 16q (16q24) by fluorescence in situ hybridization in 53 specimens from patients with prostate cancer, and compared the status of these deletions with various clinical parameters. Forty-five cases were further evaluated regarding disease progression with a median follow-up period of 62 months. RESULTS: The overall frequencies of deletions for 8p, 10q, and 16q were 74, 55, and 55%, respectively. The frequency of 8p and 16q deletions increased significantly in parallel with tumor grade (P < 0.01 and < 0.05, respectively), while that of 10q deletions did not. Patients whose tumors showed 8p22 deletions had a significantly higher frequency in pT3 or metastatic tumors than in pT2 tumors. Patients whose tumors showed both 8p22 and 16q24 deletions had a significantly higher frequency of nodal metastases than non-metastases. A Cox hazard proportional model revealed 8p22 deletion to be the strongest parameter predictive of disease progression (hazard ratio = 6.624; P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Estimation of 8p22 and 16q24 deletions may serve as a genetic diagnosis for predicting pathological staging as well as disease progression in prostate cancer.