Abstract
Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the molecular mechanism of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-9 in prostate cancer cells. Materials and Methods: Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)s and cadherins in LNCaP cells by incubation with FGF9 was assessed by western blot analysis. Tissues obtained during a radical prostatectomy in 88 patients were immunohistochemically-stained using anti-FGF9, anti-cadherin, and anti-VEGF antibodies. Results: Expression of N-cadherin and VEGF-A were induced in LNCaP cells incubated in FGF9-containing medium. The biochemical relapse-free survival rate in cases with FGF9, N-cadherin and VEGF-A-positive cells was significantly lower than the rate in cases where positive cells were not detectable. The prevalence of both VEGF-A- and N-cadherin-positive cells in the sample with FGF9-positive cells were significantly higher in comparison to FGF9-negative cases. Conclusion: FGF9 can be associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and invasion by inducing VEGF-A expression in prostate cancer cells.
- FGF9
- prostate cancer
- VEGF-A
- N-cadherin
- epithelial-mesenchymal transition
- biochemical recurrence
- radical prostatectomy
- Received December 30, 2013.
- Revision received January 16, 2014.
- Accepted January 17, 2014.
- Copyright© 2014 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved