beta-catenin as a prognostic factor for prostate cancer (PCa)

Introduction. The prostate cancer is difficult to predict, and treatment failure is associated with local infiltration, as well as distant metastases. Adhesion and migration abilities to of cancer cells play a major role in formation of metastasis. The participation of beta-catenin in pathogenesis of many types of cancer and benign processes has been an important discovery of recent years. Material and methods. The studied material was obtained by transrectal, sextant core biopsy from 102 patients hospitalized in Department of Urology, Regional Hospital in Kalisz (2001-2004). The aim of our study was to determine the predictive value of beta-catenin immunoexpression in prostate cancer, to analyze the prognostic aspect of some histopathological features and finally to assess the relationship between beta-catenin immunoreactivity and the microscopic image of the tumor. Relationships between the investigated variables were analyzed using the Chi(2) test of compatibility. We used the Kaplan-Meier curves to assess survival differences between groups of patients. Finally we established which of the studied factors significantly affect the patient outcome, using the method of Cox proportional hazard regression. Results. In prostate cancer in comparison with the normal epithelium, both the location and the strength of beta-catenin immunoexpression are impaired. Conclusions. Our results indicate that the presence of disorders in beta-catenin immunoexpression in prostate cancer cells indicates a high risk of death due to tumor progression and makes it imperative for immediate treatment procedures.