Overexpression of PIM-1 is a potential biomarker in prostate carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Prostate carcinoma (CaP) is the frequently diagnosed cancer in man. Prostate specific antigen (PSA), which is now widely used as a diagnostic marker for CaP, lacks specificity and fails to predict possible CaP progression. So it is necessary to identify the new biomarkers for CaP.

METHOD

We identified several genes that were differentially expressed between benign prostatic hyperplasia and CaP by microarray analysis. One gene that was overexpressed encoded a serine/threonine kinase PIM-1. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical analysis were used to investigate PIM-1 mRNA and protein expression in malignant and benign prostate samples.

RESULT

PIM-1 was overexpressed in CaP, and the overexpression of PIM-1 was related to the grade and neoplastic transformation of CaP.

CONCLUSIONS

The data, together with the molecular functions of PIM-1 suggest that PIM-1 may have an important role in CaP progression and has potential to be a diagnostic and prognostic marker for CaP.