Increased hyaluronidase expression in more aggressive prostate adenocarcinoma

Tumor metastasis involves a complex sequence of cellular and biochemical ev ents of which tumor cell penetration through the basement membrane is an es sential component. Disruption of basement membrane integrity by hyaluronida se has been implicated in the development of locally advanced and metastati c carcinoma. This investigation correlates hyaluronidase expression with pa thologic prognostic variables for prostate adenocarcinoma. Paraffin samples (n=9) of patients receiving prostatectomies for clinical stage B adenocarc inoma were evaluated. RT-PCR was utilized to detect the presence of hyaluro nidase. These results were correlated with the histological assessment of e ach sample. Gleason score was significantly higher in patients with RT-PCR detectable hyaluronidase (mean +/- SD 7.25+/-1.8 versus 4.17+/-1.0; p<0.05) . Histological evidence of perineural invasion was seen in 83% of the speci mens with detectable hyaluronidase, whereas none was found in hyaluronidase negative samples (p<0.05). A trend was seen between hyaluronidase and caps ular invasion with 33% hyaluronidase positive tumor exhibiting evidence of capsular invasion, while no evidence in the hyaluronidase negative tumor. T hese data suggest that hyaluronidase may be involved in prostate adenocarci noma progression and metastasis.