Kinesin Family Member 11 mRNA Expression Predicts Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness.

Background: KIF11 (kinesin family member 11), a molecular motor protein, is essential to mitosis and cell cycle progression. Inhibitors of KIF11 have been developed as chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of various cancers. Regarding prostate cancer (PCa), clinical trials using KIF11 inhibitors for the treatment of castration-resistant PCa have been initiated. We hypothesized that a relationship might exist between KIF11 expression and PCa. To investigate the functional activities and clinical usefulness of KIF11 in PCa, we used quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction to monitor the KIF11 expression patterns.

Materials And Methods: Tissue samples from 134 patients with PCa were analyzed using gene expression profiling and compared with tissues from 61 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. KIF11 expression was evaluated by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and compared with indicators of tumor aggressiveness, such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, Gleason score (GS), and tumor stage (TNM stage).

Results: KIF11 mRNA expression in tissue was significantly greater in PCa patients with elevated serum PSA levels (≥ 10 ng/mL), GS ≥ 8 [58(43.3%)], T stage ≥ T3, or metastatic disease than in those with PSA levels < 10 ng/mL, GS of 7, or T2 stage. Additionally, the expression was remarkably greater in patients with a GS of ≥ 9 than in patients with a GS of 3+4.

Conclusion: KIF11 expression might be indicative of PCa aggressiveness and could be useful as a prognostic marker for patients with PCa.