Androgen receptor coactivator p120 subtype beta is highly expressed in prostate cancer

Purpose: The beta form of p120 is reported to be a strong coactivator of the androgen receptor. We investigated the gene expression profiles of the alpha and beta forms of p120 in prostate cancer cell lines, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), nontreated prostate cancer (NTPC), and prostate cancer after androgen deprivation therapy (PCA-ADT). Methods: We obtained 154 prostate needle biopsy specimens (81 in BPH, 51 in NTPC, and 22 in PCA-ADT). Levels of p120 alpha and beta expression were determined by multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: Prostate cancer cell lines, LNCaP, PC-3, DU-145 and LNCaP-LA, which is a derivative of LNCaP under androgen deprivation, expressed both p120 alpha and p120 beta. p120 alpha expression levels were significantly higher than those of p120 beta in all cell lines examined. In human prostate tissues, p120 alpha expression was significantly higher than that of p120 beta in BPH and NTPC. p120 alpha expression in BPH was significantly higher than in other groups. In contrast, p120 beta expression was significantly higher in NTPC and PCA-ADT than in BPH. Expression of the two forms of p120 was not correlated with age, prostate-specific antigen, or Gleason score. Conclusions: The expression profiles of p120 alpha and p120 beta significantly differ in cancerous and benign prostatic tissues.