High expression of citron kinase predicts poor prognosis of prostate cancer

Citron kinase (CIT) is a Rho-effector protein kinase that is associated with several types of cancer. However, the role of CIT in prostate cancer (PCa) is unclear. The current study utilized microarray data obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas, which was analyzed via Biometric Research Program array tools. Additionally, reverse transcription-quantitative (RT-q)PCR was performed to compare the mRNA expression of CIT in PCa tissue and in benign prostatic hyperplasia. The protein expression of CIT was detected in a consecutive cohort via immunochemistry and CIT was screened as a potential oncogene in PCa. The results of RT-qPCR demonstrated that the mRNA expression of CIT was increased in PCa tissues. Furthermore, immunochemistry revealed that CIT protein expression was positively associated with age at diagnosis, Gleason grade, serum PSA, clinical T stage, risk group, lymph node invasion and metastasis. When compared with the low expression group, patients with a high CIT expression exhibited shorter survival rates, cancer specific mortalities (CSM) and biochemical recurrence (BCR). In addition, multivariate analysis revealed that CIT was a potential predictor of CSM and BCR. The results revealed that CIT is overexpressed during the malignant progression of PCa and may be a predictor of a poor patient prognosis.