Malignancy Grade–Dependent Expression of K+-Channel Subtypes in Human Prostate Cancer

Abstract

K+ channels are key molecules in the progression of several cancer types and considered to be potential targets for cancer therapy. We examined the gene expressions of voltage-gated (Kv), Ca2+-activated (KCa), and two-pore domain (K2P) K+-channel subtypes in needle-biopsy samples of human prostate cancer (PCa) by real-time PCR and compared them with those in PCa epithelial cell lines. The expression of Kv1.3, KCa1.1, KCa3.1, and K2P1 markedly increased in the PCa group with Gleason score of 5 – 6 (GS5–6) but significantly decreased in the GS8–9 group. This malignancy grade–dependent K+-channel expression pattern may provide a convenient marker to understand PCa progression level. Keywords:: prostate cancer, K+ channel, tumor marker