Significance Of LC3B Autophagy Marker In Recurrent Prostate Adenocarcinoma

Objective — To compare the expression of the LC3B autophagy marker before and after treatment with high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy (HIFU) and combined therapies: androgenic deprivation AD + HIFU, AD + radiation therapy in patients with and without recurrent prostate adenocarcinoma. Material and Methods — The objects of our study were biopsy specimens of prostates obtained from 70 patients with prostate adenocarcinoma before and after treatment. The first group consisted of patients without signs of relapse after treatment, as evidenced by a normal blood PSA level, the results of ultrasound procedure and biopsy. The second group included patients who had a recurrence of adenocarcinoma after treatment. Patients received the following cancer treatments: ultrasound ablation (HIFU), combination therapy: androgenic deprivation AD + HIFU, AD + radiation therapy. An immunohistochemical staining in two groups was performed with an anti-LC3B antibody. Results — In the group of patients without relapse, the expression of the autophagy marker sharply decreased in the tumor tissue after treatment, but it increased in the stroma of muscle connective tissue and the vascular wall. In the group of patients with relapse, the expression of anti-LC3B antibody significantly increased in tumor cells, in stroma of muscle connective tissue, and in vascular wall after treatment. In both groups, the magnitude of the autophagy marker expression did not depend on the treatment method. Conclusion — The autophagy is one of the factors contributing to the survival of prostate adenocarcinoma cells after treatment; the increase in autophagic protein expression after treatment in patients with prostate adenocarcinoma can be used to assess the risk of relapse.