There are different biological features between PZ and TZ of prostate gland [2]. Aberrant prostate growth arises as a consequence of changes in the balance between cell selleck products proliferation and cell death [3]. This deregulation may result in production of prostate specific markers such as the secreted protease prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and the cell surface prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) [4].

A transmembrane glycoprotein expressed in the human prostate parenchyma, from where it was first cloned and named prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) [5] has gained increased attention in diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of PC [6]. PSMA is a metallopeptidase belonging to the peptidase family M28 [7] and has apparent molecular masses of 84-100 kDa [8] with a unique three-part structure: a short cytoplasmic amino terminus that interacts with an actin filament, PND-1186 solubility dmso a single membrane-spanning domain and a large extracellular domain [9]. Several alternative isoforms have been described, including the cytosolic variants PSMA’, selleck kinase inhibitor PSM-C, PSM-D [10] and PSMA-E. These variants are thought to be the consequence of alternative

splicing of the PSMA gene [11]. Concerning prostate tumorigenesis, the membrane form of PSMA is predominantly expressed. However, in normal prostate the dominating form of this protein is the one that appears in the cytoplasm [12, 13]. If acting as a transmembrane receptor, PSMA can be internalized from the plasma membrane and trafficking through the endocytic system [13]. Although the PSMA have been noted in a subset of non prostatic tissues (small

intestine, proximal renal tubule), the level of expression of PSMA in these tissues is less than in prostate tissue [14]. PSMA functions as folate hydrolase and neuropeptidase [15, 16] with expression at low levels in benign prostatic epithelium and upregulated several fold in the majority of advanced medroxyprogesterone prostatic malignancies [17]. In these tumors, PSMA immunoexpression has been shown to correlate with aggressiveness of the PC, with highest levels expressed in an androgen-deprived state and metastatic disease [18]. Unlike PSMA, PSA is a 33 kDa glycoprotein of the kallikrein family of proteases [19]. It is found in normal, hyperplastic and malignant prostate tissue, and is not specific biomarker for PC [20]. It is secreted into the lumen of prostatic duct to liquefy the seminal coagulum [21]. In invasive adenocarcinomas, disruption of the normal glandular architecture and loss of the polarity of prostatic cells appear to allow PSA increased direct leakage into peripheral circulation [22]. PSA is the most widely used serum marker for the diagnosis and follow-up of PC [23].