In a nutshell
The authors determined the effect of PTEN in tumor upgrading in prostate cancer patients.
Some background
Prostate surgery is a common treatment in prostate cancer. It involves surgically removing the prostate gland. The PTEN gene acts as a tumor supressor (protects normal cells from progressing to cancer cells) and is mutated (permanently changed) in numerous cancers. Production levels of PTEN can promote cancer growth and can increase patient risk. PTEN can also be used in tumor upgrading. This is when a tumor is upgraded from one stage to another. Prostate specific antigen (PSA – protein elevated in the blood that indicates cancer is present) levels and Gleason scores (scoring system that compares cancer cells and normal cells) can also be used to determine tumor stage and grade in prostate cancer..
Further studies are needed to determine the link between the PTEN gene and tumor upgrading in prostate cancer patients.
Methods & findings
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of PTEN in tumor upgrading following prostate surgery.
174 patients who underwent prostate surgery were analyzed in this study. 71 patients in group 1 underwent tumor upgrading. Patients in group 1 increased from a Gleason score of 6 to a score of 7 or higher after surgery. 103 patients in group 2 were used as 'control' meaning that these patients had Gleason score of 6 both on biopsy and after prostate surgery. Biopsy is a procedure where a sample of tissue taken from the affected part for examination.
The average age of patients in group 1 was 61.8 years. This was compared to 59.3 years in group 2. PSA levels before surgery were 23% higher in group 1 compared to group 2. 18% of patients in group 1 experienced PTEN loss compared to 7% in group 2. Tumors that had PTEN protein loss were more likely to be upgraded after prostate surgery than those without PTEN loss. PTEN loss in patients with Gleason score 6 tumors were at an increased risk of upgrading at prostate surgery.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that PTEN loss in Gleason score 6 tumors was associated with an increased risk of tumor upgrading following prostate surgery.
Published By :
Modern Pathology
Date :
Jul 04, 2014
