Increased expression of CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein beta in proliferative inflammatory atrophy of the prostate: Relation with the expression of COX‐2, the androgen receptor, and presence of focal chronic inflammation

The data demonstrated that chronic inflammation appeared to play roles in the induction of C/EBPbeta expression in prostate epithelium, which was in turn associated with increased COX-2 expression and AR downregulation. In combining with other molecular alteration in the epithelium of PIA, it is suggested that these cells might be a kind of intermediate cells and involved in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer.