Reduced α- and β-catenin Expression Predicts Shortened Survival in Local Prostate Cancer

The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of α- and β-catenin expressions in local prostate cancer (PC). Materials and Methods: One hundred and eighty-one PC patients treated with radical prostatectomy were followed-up for a mean of 7.3 years. The α- and β-catenin expression were analysed by immunohistochemistry TMT (tissue microarray technique) and light microscopy. Results: Strong α-catenin expression was related to low Gleason grade (p<0.001), cancer-free seminal vesicles (p=0.04) and low preoperative PSA (p=0.02). Strong β-catenin expression was related to low Gleason grade (p<0.001) and cancer-free seminal vesicle status (p=0.03). Absence of nuclear β-catenin expression was related to local disease (pTl-T2) (p=0.05). α-catenin (p=0.06), β-catenin (p=0.05), Gleason grade (p=0.03) and capsular invasion (p=0.01) were related to PSA recurrence in patients who reached PSA zero postoperatively. PSA recurrence-free survival (RFS) was significantly related to Gleason grade (p<0.001), capsule invasion (p=0.01), perineural growth (p=0.05) and preoperative PSA (p=0.05). In Cox's analysis, independent predictors of PSA RFS were Gleason grade (p<0.001) and capsular invasion (p=0.006). Low expressions of α- (p=0.06) and β-catenin (p=0.05) were related to shortened PSA RFS. Survival was related to low α- (p=0.011) and β-catenin (p=0.016) expressions. Independent predictors of shortened survival were seminal vesicle invasion (p=0.016) and low α-catenin expression (p=0.049). Conclusion: Reduced α- or β-catenin expressions are related to malignant phenotype in local prostate cancer and predict PSA failure as well as shortened survival.