The Initial Investigation Of The Expression Profile Of Homeobox Gene NKX3.1, Estrogen Receptors And Caspase-3 Activity In Primary Prostate Cancer

The specific expression profile of homeobox gene NKX3.1 mRNA and protein in prostate tissues and its relationship with primary prostate cancer[ Objective]To determine the expression of NKX3.1 mRNA and protein in prostate tissues andto investigate the relation between the NKX3.1 expression and prostatic carcinoma.[Methods]76 prostate tissues(32 cancer, 12 normal prostate and 32 benign prostate hyperplasia tissues) and 96 non-prostate tissues were analysed for the expression of NKX3.1 mRNA and protein by using semi-quantitative RT-PCR.Western blotting and immunohistochemical technique.[Results]In 76 prostate tissues.the NKX3.1 mRNA expression were seen in 75 specimens(98.7%),whereas in 96 non-prostate specimens.there was no expression of NKX3.1 mRNA in the tissue of bladder.kidney.liver, intestine.fat and skin.except for 2 expression in testis and 1 in mammary gland.The expression ratio of NKX3.1 protein in the epithelia cells of prostate was 1 00%, whereas its in testis mammary gland was 1 6.7%, in bladder and intestine was 8.3%, and in kidney.liver.fat and skin was 0%(p<0.01).The tatle strong positive ratio of NKX3.1 protien in the epithelia cell of prostate was 94.7% , 5.3% in the stroma cell of prostate (p<0.01),and 13.6% in benignant prostate cell,40.6% in prostate cancer (p<0.01).[Conclusions]It is suggested that NKX3.1 is not only the prostate-specific homeobox gene.but also is the epithelia-cell-specific gene of prostate.it may play an important role in the development of prostatic carcinoma.