| abstract |
Expression of Forkhead-box protein Al (FOXAl), a transcription factor important for the normal development of the prostate gland is thought to be controlled by steroid hormones and GATA-3. Expression of FOXAl, GATA-3 and androgen receptor (AR) was retrospectively analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in a series of 80 primary tumors and 28 metastatic prostate cancers including 15 matched paired samples. High nuclear FOXAl expression was seen in 19% of primary tumors and 89% of metastatic tumors (p<0.0001). FOXAl expression correlated positively with tumor size, extra-prostatic extension, angiolymphatic invasion, AR and metastasis but did not correlate with age, tumor stage, Gleason score, presence of PIN or multifocality, seminal vesicle or perineural invasion and status of surgical excision margins. Expression of GATA-3 was not seen in either normal epithelium or tumor. High FOXAl expression is associated with development of metastatic prostate cancer. Accordingly, FOXAl expression can be used to classify patients at higher risk for metastases. |