PURPOSE: We investigated the expression of metallothionein in human prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Formalin fixed and paraffin embedded tissue specimens from 45 patients with primary prostate cancer were stained for metallothionein using a standard immunohistochemical technique. RESULTS: Metallothionein was detected in 15 of 45 prostate cancers (33.3%). Cytoplasmic and nuclear staining occurred in most cells. Additionally, metallothionein was found in basement membrane surrounding the cancer cells in 2 cases with metallothionein expression, and in secretory products of the lumen in a few cases. Statistical analysis for metallothionein expression related to tumor grade revealed a significant difference between high (7 to 10) and low (2 to 4) Gleason scores (p < 0.001), as well as between middle (5 and 6) and low scores (p < 0.05). However, no relationship was found with clinical stage. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest a close correlation of metallothionein expression with tumor grade and a wide range of metallothionein expression in prostate cancer.
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Zhang et al. (1996) studied this question.
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