Expression of oestrogen receptor-alpha and oestrogen receptor-beta in prostate cancer

Chin Med J (Engl). 2007 Sep 20;120(18):1611-5.

Abstract

Background: Recent studies have suggested that estrogens are involved in normal and abnormal prostate growth, though their exact role is still controversial. Oestrogens exert inhibitory and stimulatory effects on prostate gland, but the expression of oestrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha) and oestrogen receptor-beta (ERbeta) in malignant prostate tissue remains unresolved. We determined ERalpha and ERbeta in prostate cancer and investigated the relationship between expression of ER and pathological features of prostate carcinoma.

Methods: Thirty-two cases of prostate cancer, 12 cases of normal prostate tissue and 32 cases of benign prostate hyperplasia were analyzed for the expression of ERalpha and ERbeta using semiquantitative, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the products sequenced.

Results: Comparisons of the normal, hyperplastic and tumour prostate tissues indicated an overexpression of ERalpha in tumour specimens (P < 0.01). However, the expression of ERbeta significantly reduced in tumour tissues compared with normal and hyperplastic specimens (P < 0.01), suggesting that severe pathological features of prostate cancer were associated with lower ERbeta expression. Spearman analysis showed negative correlation between ERbeta expression and tumour stage, grade (-0.67, -0.43, respectively, both P < 0.05), and a positive correlation between ERalpha expression and tumour stage, grade (0.51, 0.57, respectively, both P < 0.01). Our analysis also showed that hormone refractory, prostate cancer, compared with hormone dependent, prostate cancer, displayed a decreased expression of ERbeta (P < 0.01) and an increased expression of ERalpha.

Conclusions: ERalpha and ERbeta may play important roles in the development of prostate cancer. The decrease in ERbeta expression is associated with higher Gleason grade tumours and prostate cancer with higher metastatic potential. The loss of ERbeta could be one of the key processes leading to uncontrolled growth of prostate epithelial cells.

MeSH terms

  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / genetics*
  • Estrogen Receptor beta / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen / blood
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / blood
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Estrogen Receptor beta
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen