Expression analysis of peptide growth factors VEGF, FGF2, TGFB1, EGF and IGF1 in prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia

Abstract

Abstract. Peptide growth factors play an important role in several intracellular processes, such as cellular growth and differentiation, angiogenesis and apoptosis, as well as in carcinogenesis, since they contribute significantly to the malignant transformation. The prostate gland is abundant in growth factors. The two most known prostatic diseases, prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), are among the most common diseases that affect elderly men. This study was conducted using a quantitative real-time RT-PCR method in order to determine mRNA expression levels of peptide growth factors VEGF, FGF2, TGFB1, EGF, and IGF1 in tissue specimens from 42 patients with PCa, 42 with BPH, and 10 normal prostate samples obtained post-mortem from young individuals, in order to examine their association with prostatic hyperplasia and neoplasia. Our results show that in PCa, growth factors VEGF, EGF and FGF2 are overexpressed, while TGFB1 and IGF1 have reduced mRNA levels. In BPH, transcript levels of FGF2 and EGF are normal, while VEGF, TGFB1 and IGF1 exhibit downregulation. Further statistical analysis revealed that PCa patients with high levels of PSA blood levels have decreased FGF2 expression (p=0.016). Additionally, cancer patients with low Gleason score (<7) have increased EGF (p=0.035) and IGF1 (p=0.031) mRNA levels. IGF1 levels are also elevated in tumors with TNM stages T1-T2 (p=0.030). In BPH, older patients have reduced EGF expression (p=0.018), while IGF1 is overexpressed in younger patients (p=0.041). Additionally, the coexpression pattern of the five studied growth factors differs significantly among normal, benign and malignant prostate. These results implicate VEGF, FGF2, TGFB1, EGF and IGF1 in the development of both PCa and BPH, rendering them potential targets for disease detection, monitoring and therapy.

Combined analysis of EGF+61G>A and TGFB1+869T>C functional polymorphisms in the time to androgen independence and prostate cancer susceptibility

“…There is a significant amount of evidence supporting that the EGF and the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-b) families are among the most relevant mediators of proliferation in this type of cancer. 22,23 In line with these findings, our results suggest that TGF-b 1 and EGF combined effect may impact significantly in the individual PC risk, as well as in ADT outcome. However, a limitation to the study on PC susceptibility association with combined EGF and TGFB1 variants, resides in the significantly different mean age between PC and control groups, and the lack of information and subsequent adjustment for potentially relevant environmental factors.…”

Assessment of 54 Biomarkers for Biopsy-Detectable Prostate Cancer

“…Adipokines, markers of immune response, metalloproteinases, adhesion molecules, hormones, and several growth factors have been implicated in the process of both cancer initiation and progression in the prostate as well as in other organ systems (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10). Several from these groups have been proposed as biomarkers for cancer detection as well as for prognosis and follow-up in prostate cancer based on their detection in different biospecimens (10)(11)(12)(13). The rapid evaluation of panels of biologically motivated markers for prostate cancer is critical for the development of promising markers for early detection.…”

Growth factor expression in ophthalmic pterygia and normal conjunctiva

“…Total RNA (1 μg) was used in order to synthesize cDNA, using the StrataScript reverse transcriptase kit (Stratagene, La Jolla, CA) as previously described (8). Peptide growth factor mRNA expression was measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) with SYBR-Green I. Primers were designed to span introns, as previously described (9). The gene RPL13A was used as the internal control in order to normalize VEGFA, TGFB1, FGF2, EGF and IGF expression levels.…”