Can p503s, p504s and p510s gene expression in peripheral-blood be useful as a marker of prostatic cancer?

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to investigate whether p503S, p504S and p510S gene expression in peripheral-blood be useful as a diagnostic or prognostic marker of prostatic cancer. METHODS: Circulating cells were identified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect p503S, p504S and p510S mRNA in peripheral blood (PB) from 11 patients with treated prostatic carcinoma (CaP), 11 with newly-diagnosed untreated CaP and 20 with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (controls). RESULTS: RT-PCR amplified P503S in 7 of 11 untreated and 2 of 11 treated patients with CaP and 5 of 20 with BPH; p504S in 7 of 11 untreated and in 9 of 11 treated patients with CaP and 11 of 20 with BPH; whereas it amplified p510S in all subjects with CaP and in 15 of 20 with BPH. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the investigated genes are poorly specific and probably of little use as diagnostic or prognostic prostatic markers in peripheral blood for monitoring disease progression and recurrence.