Androgen deprivation therapy affects BCL-2 expression in human prostate cancer

  • Authors:
    • Paolo Fuzio
    • Pasquale Ditonno
    • Giuseppe Lucarelli
    • Michele Battaglia
    • Carlo Bettocchi
    • Trabucco Senia
    • Elda Perlino
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 22, 2011     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2011.1140
  • Pages: 1233-1242
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Abstract

BCL-2 is an integral protein of the external mitochondrial membrane that inhibits cell apoptotic death. We investigated the effect of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) on BCL-2 expression in prostate cancer tissues. We studied BCL-2 expression in vivo in prostate cancer tissues obtained from patients who underwent radical prostatectomy after neoadjuvant ADT, by Northern and Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry. Moreover, gene transcriptional activity was also measured by nuclear run-on experiments. We demonstrated an increase of BCL-2 mRNA expression in patients who underwent neoadjuvant ADT for 1 month in comparison to patients who had not received any therapy. Moreover, we demonstrated that there were no significant modifications of BCL-2 mRNA levels in patients who underwent neoadjuvant ADT for 3 and 6 months. Furthermore, BCL-2 protein levels in patients who underwent neoadjuvant ADT for 1 month were upregulated in comparison to patients who had not received any therapy. Immunohistochemical analysis showed a strong positivity of prostate cells depending on ADT administration for 1 month. Finally, transcriptional activity was not modified in patients who underwent neoadjuvant ADT, suggesting the absence of hormonal regulation on BCL-2 gene expression at the transcriptional level. Our data show that short-term administration of ADT interferes with BCL-2 expression, suggesting that androgen-mediated mechanisms may act through BCL-2-mediated apoptotic pathways. Moreover, since short-term ADT administration does not interfere with BCL-2 expression at the transcriptional level, the androgen-mediated mechanisms involving BCL-2 pathways, probably act at the post-transcriptional level.

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November 2011
Volume 39 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Fuzio P, Ditonno P, Lucarelli G, Battaglia M, Bettocchi C, Senia T and Perlino E: Androgen deprivation therapy affects BCL-2 expression in human prostate cancer. Int J Oncol 39: 1233-1242, 2011
APA
Fuzio, P., Ditonno, P., Lucarelli, G., Battaglia, M., Bettocchi, C., Senia, T., & Perlino, E. (2011). Androgen deprivation therapy affects BCL-2 expression in human prostate cancer. International Journal of Oncology, 39, 1233-1242. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2011.1140
MLA
Fuzio, P., Ditonno, P., Lucarelli, G., Battaglia, M., Bettocchi, C., Senia, T., Perlino, E."Androgen deprivation therapy affects BCL-2 expression in human prostate cancer". International Journal of Oncology 39.5 (2011): 1233-1242.
Chicago
Fuzio, P., Ditonno, P., Lucarelli, G., Battaglia, M., Bettocchi, C., Senia, T., Perlino, E."Androgen deprivation therapy affects BCL-2 expression in human prostate cancer". International Journal of Oncology 39, no. 5 (2011): 1233-1242. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo.2011.1140