Could trop-2 overexpression indicate tumor aggressiveness among prostatic adenocarcinomas?

Background: TROP-2, a novel marker of trophoblastic cells, is being widely analyzed for its possible role in carcinogenesis and clinical behavior of various carcinomas. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between clinicopathologic parameters and TROP2 expression in prostatic adenocarcinomas.

Methods: 101 prostatic adenocarcinomas treated by radical prostatectomy in our hospital between 2013 and 2018 were reviewed retrospectively for histopathological features, and one representative block of each case was stained with TROP2 antibody. Histopathologic prognostic features were assessed for their relationship with TROP2 expression.

Results: The mean age was found as 64.11 year. TROP2 was stained in over 10% of the tumoral cells in 64 (63.4.%) cases. Gleason grade group, perineural invasion, lymphovascular invasion, ganglionic and seminal vesicle involvement, lateral and basal surgical margin positivity showed a significant relationship with TROP2 staining.

Conclusion: TROP2 is overexpressed in various human cancers and TROP2 overexpression appears to correlate with poor prognosis leading to the suggestion that TROP2 could be a therapeutic target for various carcinomas. Our results suggest that TROP2 expression is higher in advanced tumors and these results need to be supported by larger studies.