Relationship of bcl-2 and pp125(FAK) expression to outcome of radiation therapy in prostate carcinoma

We designed this study to assess the correlation between oncogenes, FAK (focal adhesion kinase), and CD44 expression and radiation therapy outcome in prostate carcinoma. Tissue samples from 22 patients with localized prostate cancer were evaluated with immunohistochemical stains, using various monoclonal antibodies (mAb against p53, bcl-2, CD44 and FAK) applied to stored fixed-paraffin-embedded TURF specimens. All specimens were re-scored by Gleason's method. On univariate analysis, we found that pre-treatment PSA, Gleason score and bcl-2 expression are significantly associated with disease progression after radiotherapy. Multivariate analysis by a Cox regression model revealed a significant association of bcl-2 expression with poor disease control. Both univariate and multivariate analysis demonstrated a correlation between FAK expression and poor survival. These results suggest that bcl-2 and FAK expression, as well as PSA and Gleason score, may be useful predictive markers of clinical response to radiation therapy for prostate carcinoma.