Expression of livin, survivin and caspase-3 in prostatic cancer and their clinical significance.

To explore the expressions level of Livin, Survivin and Caspase-3 in prostatic cancer and the relationship among the 3 proteins and the clinicopathological features as well as the correlation among them. Totally, 43 paraffin-embedded prostate cancer tissues obtained from patients who were performed with rectal prostate biopsy or excision and 17 paraffin-embedded prostatic hyperplasia tissues were collected. All the specimens were confirmed by pathology. Immunohistochemistry SP method was used to detect the expressions of Livin, Survivin and Caspase-3 in prostatic cancer compared to hyperplasia tissues. The positive expression rates of both Livin and Survivin in prostatic cancer tissue were higher than those in prostatic hyperplasia tissue (93.02% vs. 64.70%, P < 0.05; 83.72% vs. 35.29%, P < 0.01). However, the positive expression rate of Caspase-3 in prostatic cancer tissue was obviously lower than that in prostatic hyperplasia tissue (25.58% vs. 58.82%, P < 0.01). Both Livin and Survivin expressions in prostatic cancer tissue were related to pathological grading (Gleason scores) (X(2) = 14.000, P = 0.001), but not related to preoperative PSA, clinical stages and distant metastasis (P > 0.05). Capsase-3 expression in prostatic cancer tissue was related to pathological grading (Gleason scores) (X (2) = 14.000, P = 0.001) and clinical stages (X (2) = 4.896, P = 0.027), but not related to preoperative PSA and distant metastasis (P > 0.05). In prostatic cancer tissue, Livin expression had no correlation with Survivin expression (r = 0.127, P = 0.419 > 0.05), but negatively correlated with Caspase-3 expression (r = -0.497, P = 0.001). Survivin expression was negatively correlated with Caspase-3 expression (r = -0.354, P = 0.020). Livin, Survivin and Caspase-3 are closely related to the occurrence and development of prostatic cancer and which are expected to become new targets for diagnosis and treatment in future.