Expression of Cysteine Protease Protein 32 in Prostatic Adenocarcinoma Correlates With Tumor Grade

Abstract Context.—Controlled cell death is mediated by apoptosis-specific genes, tumor suppressor genes, and oncogenes. The caspase family is a group of at least 15 known cysteine proteases that serve as initiator and effector molecules of the apoptosis pathway. On activation, caspases cause cell shrinkage, condensation of chromatin, fragmentation of DNA, and the formation of blebs in the cytoplasmic membrane. Objectives.—The patterns of cysteine protease protein (CCP) 32 (caspase-3) expression have been determined in normal human tissues and a variety of tumors, and have been shown to correlate with the outcome in breast cancer and linked to resistance to chemotherapy in other tumors. This study was performed to determine whether CPP32 is expressed in prostatic adenocarcinoma and to define its relationship with outcome variables. Design.—Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded radical prostatectomy specimens from 211 patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma were evaluated for CPP32 expression by immunohistochemi...