Objective: To investigate the expression of activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule(ALCAM) protein in prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and adenocarcinoma, and the relationship between ALCAM expression and clinicopathological features of prostatic carcinoma.
Methods: ALCAM protein expression was evaluated in the tissues of 41 human prostatic carcinomas by using immunohistochemistry (EnVision method).
Results: ALCAM was widely expressed in prostatic epithelia. Overexpression of ALCAM was found in most prostatic intraepithelial neoplasias and low-grade cancers, whereas a decreased expression shown in some high-grade cancers. The ALCAM protein expression in prostatic carcinoma was correlated with pathological grading. However, no correlation of ALCAM expression was found with preoperative serum prostate-specific antigen levels or clinical stages.
Conclusion: Expression of ALCAM is disturbed in prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and adenocarcinoma, indicating its involvement in the development of human prostatic carcinoma.