Immunohistochemical analysis of β-tubulin isotypes in human prostate carcinoma and benign prostatic hypertrophy

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
BACKGROUND β-tubulin, the intracellular target of several antimicrotubule agents, is encoded by at least six genes and exists as multiple isotypes with tissue-specific expression. Previous in vitro studies indicated that tubulin isotype composition may affect polymerization properties, dynamics, and sensitivity to drugs. METHODS To investigate the isotype composition of β-tubulin in human prostate, tissues were collected from 26 patients after radical prostatectomy and sections were stained with isotype-specific antibodies. RESULTS βIV tubulin is the predominant isotype in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and adenocarcinoma, showing significantly stronger immunohistochemical expression than βII and βIII, particularly in Gleason's grade 3 and 4 cancers. Staining for the βII isotype was invariably weak and often absent in BPH and normal glands. There was a marked increase in βII isotype stain from BPH to cancer in 77% of the patients, suggesting that the expression of this isotype is related to malignant status. CONCLUSIONS The βII tubulin isotype is a potential marker for prostate adenocarcinoma. The possibility that tumor β-tubulin isotype composition may effect the response to anti-microtubule drug therapy in prostate cancer and other tumors merit investigation. Prostate 30:263–268, 1997.