An Examination of the Association between FOXA1 Staining Level and Biochemical Recurrence following Salvage Radiation Therapy for Recurrent Prostate Cancer

Abstract

BackgroundStandardly collected clinical and pathological patient information has demonstrated only moderate ability to predict risk of biochemical recurrence (BCR) of prostate cancer in men undergoing salvage radiation therapy (SRT) for a rising PSA after radical prostatectomy (RP). Although elevated FOXA1 staining has been associated with poor patient outcomes following RP, it has not been studied in the specific setting of SRT after RP. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between FOXA1 staining level and BCR after SRT for recurrent prostate cancer.MethodsA total of 141 men who underwent SRT at our institution were included. FOXA1 staining levels in primary tumor samples were detected using immunohistochemistry. FOXA1 staining percentage and intensity were measured and multiplied together to obtain a FOXA1 H-score (range 0–12) which was our primary staining measure. P-values ≤ 0.0056 were considered as statistically significant after applying a Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons.ResultsThere was not a significant association between FOXA1 H-score and risk of BCR when considering H-score as an ordinal variable or as a categorical variable (all P≥0.090). Similarly, no significant associations with BCR were observed for FOXA1 staining percentage or staining intensity (all P≥0.14).ConclusionsFOXA1 staining level does not appear to have a major impact on risk of BCR after SRT.

Gene expression profiling of breast cancer cell lines treated with proton and electron radiations

“…FOX TFs were described as regulators of growth, invasion, metastasis processes, and also in radiation gene expression response. 33,34 In particular, here we identify FoxD3, FoxI1 and FoxA1 as specific TFs IR-induced in breast cell lines, up to today poorly described in this topic. On the other hand, ARID family members were described to have a role in cell cycle control, transcriptional regulation and in chromatin structure modification.…”