Effect of androgen deprivation on epithelial and mesenchymal tissue components in localized prostate cancer

Abstract

Objective To measure the area distribution of epithelial and mesenchymal components in the prostate of patients with localized prostate cancer after temporary androgen deprivation. Patients and methods Surgical specimens from 38 patients treated with the gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone agonist triptorelin for 3 months before radical prostatectomy were examined (group 1). Specimens from a second group of 54 patients who underwent the same surgical procedure with no prior therapy were used as controls (group 2). The specimens were serially step‐sectioned and whole‐mount tissue sections prepared. The epithelial, smooth muscle and connective tissue components were stained separately with immunohistochemical and histochemical techniques, respectively. Using colour‐based image analyses, the tissue components were classified into three categories, displayed in different colours. The percentage of tumour areas occupied by cancer epithelial cells, connective tissue and smooth muscle was determined. Results In specimens from group 1, the cancer epithelium was sparse and scattered throughout the tumour area. A mean (sd) of 21 (11)% of the area was occupied by cancer cells, compared with 40 (11)% in the corresponding material from group 2 (P<0.001). The connective tissue/smooth muscle ratio in stroma (about 1:1) was similar in both groups. Conclusions Neoadjuvant hormone treatment of patients with localized prostate cancer was associated with a marked reduction in tumour density and thus in the total amount of cancer epithelium.

Emergence of metastatic hormone‐refractory disease in prostate cancer after anti‐androgen therapy

“…The loss of the secretory epithelium without the concomitant loss of stroma results in an increase in stromal–epithelial ratio [DeKlerk and Coffey, 1978]. The reduction of prostatic tumor size after treatment with anti‐androgen is primarily due to the selective loss of androgen‐dependent tumor cells, resulting in the substantial increase in the stroma–epithelium ratio [Hellstrom et al, 1997]. Since the stromal compartment of the tumor does not undergo significant apoptosis after hormone ablation, this results in a substantial increase in the stromal–epithelial ratio (Fig.…”

Defined medium for normal adult human prostatic stromal cells

“…Androgen receptors have been located in the stroma of prostatic tissues (1,26,33) and androgen stimulation of growth of cultured prostatic stromal cells has been reported by some (10,22,27) but not others (16). It is unclear whether androgen is involved in stromal growth or even maintenance in vivo, since androgen withdrawal appears not to have immediate or dramatic effects on the volume or histologic appearance of the stroma (19). Few reports of strong mitogenic activity of androgen on cultured stromat cells exist so, like EGE androgen may have more important roles in other aspects of stromal cell behavior.…”

Apoptosis and Tumor Progression in Prostate Cancer

“…The loss of the secretory epithelium without the concomitant loss of stroma results in an increase in stromalepithelial ratio [DeKlerk and Coffey, 1978]. The reduction of prostatic tumor size after treatment with anti-androgen is primarily due to the selective loss of androgen-dependent tiimor cells, resulting in the substantial increase in the stroma-epithelium ratio [Hellstrom et al, 1997]. Since the stromal compartment of the tumor does not undergo significant apoptosis after hormone ablation, this results in a substantial increase in the stromal-epithelial ratio (Fig.…”