The expression of sex steroid receptors and sex steroid–synthesizing/metabolizing enzymes in metastasized lymph nodes of prostate cancer

The expression statuses of sex steroid receptors and sex steroid–synthesizing/metabolizing enzymes have been reported in primary prostate cancer lesions, but that in metastatic lymph nodes has remained unknown. Therefore, in this study, we immunolocalized these proteins in primary tumors and paired metastatic lymph nodes of prostate cancer and correlated the findings with clinicopathological factors of individual patients. The expression statuses of AR and ER β was significantly increased in metastatic lymph nodes compared with primary lesions, whereas that of 17βHSD1, 17βHSD2, 17βHSD5, and STS immunoreactivity was decreased in metastatic lymph nodes. In metastatic lymph nodes, the status of 5α2 was significantly correlated with that of AR. In addition, 17βHSD5-, 5α1-, STS-, and EST-positive cases were significantly associated with Gleason score (GS) status (GS > 8 versus GS < 7) in metastatic lymph nodes. Results of our present study did demonstrate that in situ androgen and estrogen metabolism and action play roles in pathophysiology of prostate cancer in metastatic lymph nodes, but these steroidogenic effects could be different from those in primary lesions.