Expression of survivin and apoptotic biomarkers in benign prostatic hyperplasia.

PURPOSE

We assessed the differential expression of survivin and other apoptotic markers in stromal and epithelial compartments of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and normal prostate tissue.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Immunohistochemical staining for survivin, and transforming growth factor-beta1 and its receptors was done in normal prostate and BPH areas from 114 consecutive patients who underwent radical prostatectomy. Moreover, staining for survivin, Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3 and Ki-67 was performed in prostate specimens from 23 consecutive patients who underwent open prostatectomy and 4 young patients who underwent cystoprostatectomy and had a normal prostate.

RESULTS

Survivin and Bcl-2 expression increased incrementally from normal prostate to epithelial BPH to stromal BPH. Caspase-3 expression was higher in BPH epithelium than in BPH stroma, which in turn was higher than that in normal prostate. Ki-67 was significantly over expressed in BPH stroma and epithelium. Survivin expression in BPH tissue correlated with International Prostate Symptom Score, quality of life, post-void residual urine volume, maximum urine flow rate and transforming growth factor-beta1 expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Survivin is over expressed in BPH and it correlates with BPH parameters. Increases in proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis have a role in BPH.