[Significance of both nuclear and cytosol androgen receptor (AR) in assessment of AR status in prostate carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Androgen receptor (AR) is closely associated with the genesis,development,treatment and assessment of prognosis of prostate carcinoma (PC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). How to determine the AR status accurately has important clinical significance. This study was designed to investigate the significance of androgen receptor(AR) in cell nucleus for assessment of the AR status of patients with PC and HCC.

METHODS

A total of 94 PC and 192 HCC tissues were analyzed for the affinity (KD),cytosol AR (AcR) and nuclear AR(AnR) using radioligand binding assay(RBA).

RESULTS

In 94 PC tissues, the Bmax values of AcR and AnR were 58.82+/-34.73 and 543.70+/-249.44 fmol/mg protein which were significantly higher than those of the surrounding tissues (21.63+/-14.89 and 89.20+/-47.32 fmol/mg protein, P< 0.001). The KD values of AcR and AnR were 0.84+/-0.52 and 2.15+/-0.79 nmol/L which were not significantly different as compared with the surrounding tissues(0.78+/-0.49 and 2.24+/-0.84 nmol/L, P >0.50). In 192 HCC tissues, the Bmax values of AcR and AnR were 18.09+/-16.87 and 59.93+/-34.12 fmol/mg protein, which were significantly higher than those of the surrounding tissues (10.87+/-7.60 and 25.54+/-20.10 fmol/mg protein, P< 0.001 ). The KD values of AcR and AnR were 0.76+/-0.57 and 1.89+/-0.74 nmol/L)which were not significantly different as compared with the surrounding tissues(0.69+/-0.48 and 1.94+/-0.88 nmol/L, P >0.50). The ratio of AnR/AcR was also higher (P< 0.001). Of 94 PC tissues, 48.94% were both AcR and AnR positive, being lower than that of the tissues with positive AcR alone (77.66%). Of 192 HCC tissues, 34.09% were both AcR and AnR positive, being also lower than that of AcR positive alone (56.26%). However, 63.01% of PC and 62.03% of HCC AcR-positive tissues were accompanied by AnR-positive.

CONCLUSION

Despite the fact that the Bmax of both AcR and AnR increased in PC and HCC tissues as compared to the surrounding tissues, the AnR showed more significant changes. In assessment of the AR status of PC and HCC tissues, it would be more accurate to analyze with both AcR and AnR than with AcR alone.