Qualitative and quantitative typing of AGNORS and expression of C-ERBB-2 oncoprotein in hyperplastic, dysplastic and neoplastic prostatic lesions

Abstract EN

Purpose : In this comparative study we investigated the cell proliferation, using silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) and expression of C-erbB-2 oncoprotein in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) and prostatic carcinoma (PC).

Methods and results : AgNORs and C-erbB-2 expression were studied qualitatively and quantitatively in 30 prostatic specimens (10 BPH, 10 PIN and 10 PC).

Lowest AgNORs counts were observed in BpH and highest counts in PC.

Intermediate counts have been seen in PIN.

The difference between the three groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001).

Studying expression of C-erbB-2 oncoprotein as well as the subcellular distribution demonstrated similarity in expression of C-erbB-2 oncoprotein among high-grade PIN and PC, which differed greatly from that of BpH and low-grade PIN.

Conclusion : Our results indicate that, prostatic carcinomas may arise from prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia.

Qualitative typing of AgNORs and pattern of expression of C-erbB-2 may contribute to the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant prostatic lesions.

Further studies are required to highlight, the prognostic significance of C-erbB-2 in prostatic carcinomas.