DESCRIPTION

Abstract

Aim

To compare the indicators of the spatial organization of collagen and its regulating factors between benign and malignant prostate neoplasms.

Methods

The study involved tumor tissue samples from 40 patients with stage II-III prostate cancer (PCa) and 20 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The localization of collagen was determined with a Masson trichrome stain. To establish quantitative indicators of the spatial organization of collagen, morphometric studies were carried out with the CurveAlign and ImageJ programs.

Results

PCa tissue had two times lower collagen density (P < 0.0001) and 1.3 times lower levels of collagen alignment (P = 0.018) compared with BPH tissue. In PCa tissue, collagen fibers were shorter (by 24.2%; P < 0.001) and thicker (by 15.5%; P < 0.001). PCa tissue samples showed significantly higher levels of metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 (by 2.4 times; P = 0.001), MMP-8 (by 2.3 times; P = 0.007), and MMP-13 (by 1.9 times; P = 0.004).

Conclusions

Collagen matrix spatial organization features, as well as its regulatory factors, could be potential biomarkers of malignant prostate neoplasms.

Back