Experimental study on the relationship between expression of survivin gene and androgen dependency of prostate carcinoma

Objective To investigate the relationship between the expression of survivin gene and the androgen dependency of prostate carcinoma. Methods Using androgen-dependent prostate cancer cell line ( LNCaP) and androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line (PC3), 2 kinds of BALB/C rat tumor models ( n = 16, in each group) were constructed. Survivin mRNA and its protein were examined in the carcinoma nodes of both groups by RT-PCR and Western blot methods before and after castration. Results In both groups, higher values of survivin mRNA expression were detected in the carcinoma nodes, while no survivin mRNA and protein was found in benign tissues. The survivin mRNA value in LNCaP group was 0. 95±0. 12 before castration and 0. 80±0. 10 after castration ( P 0. 05); and in PC3 group, these values were 0. 93±0. 11 and 0. 85±0. 10, respectively ( P 0. 05 ) ; there was no significant difference between the 2 groups, and between before and after castration within each groups (P 0. 05). The protein levels were 1. 25±0. 15 in LNCaP group and 1. 15±0. 10 in PC3 group with no significant difference between the 2 groups (P=0.220). After castration, the protein level in LNCaP group (0.48±0.08) was reduced significantly (P =0.001) , but not in PC3 group (0.90±0. 10) with no significant difference before and after castration ( P 0. 05). Conclusions The post-transcription control for survivin gene may be involved in the mechanism of prostate carcinoma's dependency or refractoriness to androgen.