Genitoüriner Tümörlerde Apelin/APJ ve Fibronektin Ekspresyonunun Değerlendirilmesi: Bir İmmünohistokimyasal Analiz

Abstract

Background/Aims: Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, making cancer research and the development of new treatment methods crucial. Bladder, endometrial, and prostate cancers are among the most prevalent forms of cancer. This study aimed to investigate the expression and distribution of endogenous apelin/APJ receptor and fibronectin in these genitourinary tumors and compare them to benign tissues to contribute new data to the literature. Material and Method: Immunohistochemical methods were applied to 44 cases, including benign and malignant formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues of the endometrium, prostate, and bladder. Results: The findings showed a significant increase in apelin, APJ, and fibronectin expression in endometrioid adenocarcinoma, urothelial carcinoma, and prostatic adenocarcinoma compared to benign tissues. Moreover, the expression of these molecules had a direct correlation with each other in these tumors. However, in prostatic adenocarcinoma and endometrioid adenocarcinoma, as the tumor grade increased, the expression of these molecules decreased. Conclusions: This is the first study to examine the co-expression and distribution of endogenous apelin/APJ receptors and fibronectin in genitourinary tumors and compare them histologically with benign counterparts, to the best of our knowledge. This underscores the novelty and significance of our findings, providing a foundation for further exploration of the potential roles of these molecules in tumorigenesis and cancer therapies.