Sex Steroid Metabolism in Benign and Malignant Intact Prostate Biopsies: Individual Profiling of Prostate Intracrinology

Figure 1

(a) Unique features of our “ex vivo” model: samples were histologically confirmed on-site, part of each sample was immediately dry frozen for subsequent RNA analysis, and part was fixed and embedded for paraffin section analysis. The core biopsies guaranteed tissue integrity that is crucial to maintain enzyme kinetics and directionality closer to what occurs in in vivo; specifically the stromal-to-epithelial interaction remains unaltered, allowing appraisal of the contribution of tumor microenvironment. (b) Examples of different TCL patterns (steroid fingerprint) in patients with BPH or PC (monodimensional development). Of notice is that patients with different stage PC exhibit different steroid maps (patient 3 had a Gleason 6, while patient 6 a Gleason 8). Incubation time: 24 hours. BPH: benign prostatic hyperplasia; PC: prostate cancer.