DIFFERENTIAL IMMUNOREACTIVITY OF TRANSFORMING GROWTH-FACTOR-ALPHA IN BENIGN, DYSPLASTIC AND MALIGNANT PROSTATIC TISSUES

Immunohistochemical examination of radical prostatectomy specimens fro m 57 patients was performed to determine the differential expression o f transforming growth factor alpha in the human prostate. In addition, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) immunoreactivity was assessed in each case. Stromal versus epithelial staining was determined for e ach histological subtype: benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), prostati c intra-epithelial neoplasia (PIN), and prostatic cancer (CaP) by a si ngle pathologist reviewer. TGFa staining was predominant in stroma whi le EGFr was localized to the epithelial basal cell layer. Immunoreacti vity of both TGFa (P = 0.002) and EGFr (P < 0.001) revealed a signific ant reduction in CaP compared to BPH or PIN. Autocrine stimulation of EGFr by TGFa or other unrecognized factors may be present in CaP. Conv ersely, altered stromal influence of CaP via TGFa may be present. Thes e observations could form the basis for future cancer therapeutic stra tegies using antagonist factors.