The Role of p53, bcl-2 and E-Cadherin Expression in Predicting Biochemical Relapse for Organ Confined Prostate Cancer in Taiwan

PURPOSE: We evaluated the prognostic significance of p53, bcl-2 and E-cadherin immunoreactivity for organ confined prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records on 70 pT2 prostatic adenocarcinomas were analyzed retrospectively. Radical prostatectomy specimens were stained using antip53 (DO7), antibcl-2 (124) (Dako, Glostrup, Denmark) and antiE-cadherin (HECD-1) (R & D Systems, Abingdon, United Kingdom) antibodies. Biochemical relapse was defined as 2 consecutive elevations in serum prostatic specific antigen (PSA) higher than 0.2 ng/ml. The prognostic significance of Gleason grade, PSA, and p53, bcl-2 and E-cadherin expression was assessed. RESULTS: While p53 immunoreactivity was identified in 16 patients (22.9%), only 3 tumors (4.3%) expressed bcl-2. Aberrant E-cadherin expression was noted in 39 tumors (55.7%). At a median followup of 36.5 months 21 patients (30%) experienced biochemical relapse. There was a significantly higher biochemical failure rate in patients with abnormal bcl-2 and E-cadherin expression (log rank test p = 0.024 and 0.003, respectively). On multivariate analysis bcl-2 and E-cadherin contributed independently to the prediction of PSA relapse (p = 0.017 and 0.005, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: We noted that bcl-2 and aberrant E-cadherin expression are independent factors predicting biochemical relapse in stage pT2 prostatic cancers.