OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of transdermal electromotive drug therapy (EMDT) on transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression and their receptors in plaques in patients with Peyronie's disease. METHODS: Tissue was obtained from 13 patients with stable Peyronie's disease who had undergone plaque excision because of penile curvature. Of the 13 patients, 7 underwent EMDT with dexamethasone, verapamil, and lidocaine as first-line therapy before plaque excision and 6 were therapy naive. TGF-beta and bFGF mRNA and protein expression and that of their receptors were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 52.83 years. The mean interval from the end of EMDT to plaque excision was 7.6 months, with stable disease for >or=5 months. The comparison of TGF-beta mRNA expression in the plaques showed no difference between the EMDT and therapy-naive patients (P = .17). Also, TGF-beta protein expression in the plaques was not significantly different between the EMDT and therapy-naive patients (P = .443). TGF-beta receptor 1 mRNA expression in the plaques was significantly different between the EMDT and therapy-naive patients (P = .023), but no difference was found for TGF-beta receptor 2 mRNA (P = .292). The expression of bFGF mRNA (P = .0005) and bFGF protein expression (P = .034) in the plaques was significantly lower after EMDT. bFGF receptor mRNA expression (P = .619) showed no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with Peyronie's had significantly lower bFGF mRNA and bFGF protein expression in the plaques after EMDT. Also, overexpression of TGF-beta protein and the TGF-beta receptor was identified in the EMDT plaques compared with the therapy-naive plaques.
OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of transdermal electromotive drug therapy (EMDT) on transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression and their receptors in plaques in patients with Peyronie's disease. METHODS: Tissue was obtained from 13 patients with stable Peyronie's disease who had undergone plaque excision because of penile curvature. Of the 13 patients, 7 underwent EMDT with dexamethasone, verapamil, and lidocaine as first-line therapy before plaque excision and 6 were therapy naive. TGF-beta and bFGF mRNA and protein expression and that of their receptors were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 52.83 years. The mean interval from the end of EMDT to plaque excision was 7.6 months, with stable disease for >or=5 months. The comparison of TGF-beta mRNA expression in the plaques showed no difference between the EMDT and therapy-naive patients (P = .17). Also, TGF-beta protein expression in the plaques was not significantly different between the EMDT and therapy-naive patients (P = .443). TGF-beta receptor 1 mRNA expression in the plaques was significantly different between the EMDT and therapy-naive patients (P = .023), but no difference was found for TGF-beta receptor 2 mRNA (P = .292). The expression of bFGF mRNA (P = .0005) and bFGF protein expression (P = .034) in the plaques was significantly lower after EMDT. bFGF receptor mRNA expression (P = .619) showed no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS:Patients with Peyronie's had significantly lower bFGF mRNA and bFGF protein expression in the plaques after EMDT. Also, overexpression of TGF-beta protein and the TGF-beta receptor was identified in the EMDT plaques compared with the therapy-naive plaques.