Screening of genetic and expression alterations of SRC1 gene in prostate cancer

BACKGROUND Genetic alterations of the SRC1 gene have not been thoroughly studied in prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Five prostate cancer cell lines and 32 xenografts were screened for mutations and gene copy number alterations. Subsequently, frequencies of detected sequence variations were further analyzed in 44 clinical prostate cancers, 6 benign prostate hyperplasias, and 48 normal controls. Finally, the protein expression of SRC1 in 254 clinical prostate tumors was investigated. RESULTS Three non‐recurrent sequence variations, and one single nucleotide polymorphism in the coding region of SRC1, as well as one case of SRC1 gene amplification were found. The protein expression of SRC1 was higher in androgen ablation resistant than untreated prostate carcinomas, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.0796). CONCLUSIONS Genetic alterations of SRC1 are rare in prostate cancer. The nuclear protein accumulation of SRC1 seems to be mildly increased in androgen ablation resistant prostate cancers. Prostate 66: 1391–1398, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.