Background: We hypothesize that diet or energy restriction may alter prostate tumor architecture and nuclear morphometry in a manner predictive of indolent biology.
Methods: Adult male rats bearing the Dunning R3327-H tumor were provided free-access to the AIN76 diet or 30% diet/energy restriction for 16 weeks. Tumor tissue was harvested and stained for biomarker evaluation by quantitative digital image analysis.
Results: Compared to controls, tumors from restricted rats showed a contracted stromal compartment with an increased epithelial/glandular area, and a greater number of smaller and more homogeneous glands. In parallel, the nuclei in tumors harvested from diet-restricted rats were smaller in size, showed a lower proportion with androgen receptor (AR) staining, and reduced intensity of AR staining.
Conclusions: Our observations support the hypothesis that diet/energy restriction alters prostate tumor architecture, AR expression, and nuclear morphology consistent with a more differentiated and less aggressive phenotype.
Copyright 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.