Expression and clinicopathological significance of glucocorticoid receptor, SGK1, and NDRG1 in hormone-naïve prostate carcinoma.

Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) has been implicated in prostate carcinoma growth and progression. Glucocorticoid receptor beta (GRβ) acts as an inhibitor of GR; however, its function is not well understood. Serum- and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) is a GR-responsive gene that phosphorylates N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) and is involved in cancer growth and invasion. However, the expression of GR, GRβ, SGK1, and NDRG1 in prostate cancer and their relationship with clinicopathological and functional significance remain unknown. The association between the status of GR, GRβ, SGK1, and NDRG1 immunoreactivity and clinicopathological variables was analyzed in patients with prostate carcinoma to explore their clinical significance. In prostate carcinoma cases, the relative abundance of GR and NDRG1 immunoreactivity was inversely and significantly associated with the primary tumor stage (pT), while GR immunoreactivity was inversely and significantly associated with the Ki-67 score. The relative expression status of NDRG1 was significantly associated with that of GR. However, no significant correlation was observed between any of the clinicopathological parameters and GRβ and SGK1 expression. Our findings indicate that GR and NDRG1 expression status is correlated with clinicopathological features in patients with prostate cancer.