The expression of sex steroid receptors and sex steroid-synthesizing/metabolizing enzymes in metastasized lymph nodes of prostate cancer

The expression statuses of sex steroid receptors and sex steroid-synthesizing/metabolizing enzymes have been reported in primary prostate cancer lesions, but that in metastatic lymph nodes has remained unknown. Therefore, in this study, we immunolocalized these proteins in primary tumors and paired metastatic lymph nodes of prostate cancer and correlated the findings with clinicopathological factors of individual patients. The expression statuses of AR and ER beta was significantly increased in metastatic lymph nodes compared with primary lesions, whereas that of 17 beta HSD1, 17 beta HSD2, 17 beta HSD5, and STS immunoreactivity was decreased in metastatic lymph nodes. In metastatic lymph nodes, the status of 5 alpha 2 was significantly correlated with that of AR. In addition, 17 beta HSD5-, 5 alpha 1-, STS-, and EST-positive cases were significantly associated with Gleason score (GS) status (GS > 8 versus GS < 7) in metastatic lymph nodes. Results of our present study did demonstrate that in situ androgen and estrogen metabolism and action play roles in pathophysiology of prostate cancer in metastatic lymph nodes, but these steroidogenic effects could be different from those in primary lesions. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.