Potential Forkhead Box O 3a as Prognostic Biomarker in Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Background: Forkhead box O 3a is a transcription factor, a member of the Forkhead box O family. It has a crucial role in both oncogenesis and tumor suppression. Cellular localization and phosphorylation status are considered to be prognostic factors for cancers. Loss of Forkhead box O 3a was found in various cancers. However, its mechanism in prostate cancer remains unclear. Objective: To analyze Forkhead box O 3a as prognostic biomarker potential in prostate cancer. Methods: This analytical study was done with a cross-sectional design. The population was all cases of primary prostate cancer from the Anatomical Pathology Department in West Sumatera. The sample was 56 slides and paraffin blocks with adequate tumor tissue. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides were evaluated to review Gleason score. The immunohistochemistry staining of Forkhead box O 3a on paraffin blocks was carried out to analyze protein expression semi-quantitatively. Positive expression was moderate to strong interpretation. Results: The highest proportion of prostate cancer was high-grade Gleason score (8-10) 76.79% cases. The positive Forkhead box O 3a expression on tumor cells was 51.79%, predominantly in the cytoplasm. The negative expression in the high-grade Gleason score was more than positive. Statistically, these results showed a negative significant correlation of Forkhead box O 3a expression and Gleason score (p=0.038). Conclusion: Forkhead box O 3a was likely to be deactivated in prostate cancer. Abstain expression in nuclear, but overexpression in the cytoplasm of tumor cells induces loss of tumor suppression function. Thus, Forkhead box O 3a has potential as a prognostic biomarker for prostate cancer.