The mutations of BRCA1 and p53 genes have been simultaneously characterized in many tumors. However, their coexpression and associations have not been investigated quantitatively in prostate cancer. In the present study, the expressions of the mutated BRCA1 mRNA and p53 mRNA were examined in 48 Chinese prostate cancer cases and 10 corresponding adjacent benign tissues with in situ hybridization. The 5-year survival rates of the corresponding patients after operation were investigated. The results showed that the positive expressions of the mutated BCRA1 mRNA and p53 mRNA are involved in prostate cancer (P < 0.05). Moreover, there is a closed negative association between the expressions of the mutated BRCA1 gene and p53 gene in the mRNA level with the progression, angiogenesis, metastasis, and survival rate of prostate cancer. Their coexpression and negative association suggest that the two altered tumor suppressor genes might interact functionally in prostate cancer to provide a potential signal determining a prognosis of the tumor metastasis and survival rate. Further work will be done to elucidate the interaction mechanisms in prostate cancer.
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