STEAP1 expression in prostate cancer and its regulation by androgens

Six transmembrane epithelial antigen of the prostate 1 (STEAP1) was identified a gene overexpressed in human prostate cancer. It is localized in cell junctions of epithelial cells, and its structure with six transmembrane domains suggests that it may act as a membrane channel or transporter protein in tight junctions [1]. Although STEAP1 expression seems to be up-regulated in prostate cancer, the clinical significance of this finding remains to be clarified. Moreover, STEAP1 is more expressed in LNCaP than in PC3, suggesting that androgens may regulate its expression. Therefore, the goals of this experimental work were: i) to evaluate if STEAP1 expression correlates with clinical reports from patients; ii) to analyze if STEAP1 is regulated by 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in vitro and in vivo.

Immunohistochemical analysis shows that STEAP1 expression is mainly expressed in epithelial cells. Analysis of STEAP1 immunoreactivity in prostate cancer is underway. In vivo results demonstrated that castration increases STEAP1 protein expression when compared to intact rats, and treatment with DHT abrogates the effect of castration in STEAP1 expression, suggesting that STEAP1 protein is down-regulated by DHT. However, these results do not correlate with STEAP1 mRNA expression, suggesting that mechanisms at the translation level may be involved. In vitroresults demonstrated that both STEAP1 mRNA and protein expression are down-regulated by DHT after 24h of stimulation.