Expression of Sulfated Glycoprotein 2 Is Associated with Carcinogenesis Induced by yV-Nitroso-jV-methylurea in Rat Prostate and Seminal Vesicle

To understand the molecular mechanism of carcinogenesis in androgendependent tumors, we have searched for new markers which are associ ated with this process. In normal rat prostate and seminal vesicle, sulfated glycoprotein 2 (SGP-2) messenger RNA is barely detectable. However, we have found high levels of SGP-2 expression in the epithelial component of carcinomas of the prostate and seminal vesicle after initiation with ¿V-nitroso-JV-methylureaand promotion with testosterone propionate. We have also observed induction of SGP-2 expression in epithelial cells at early stages in carcinogenesis when cytologically malignant cells first be gin to appear. SGP-2 has been reported previously to be associated with a variety of models of programmed cell death (apoptosis), including the prostate following castration. Our present findings provide a novel marker for carcinogenesis in the rat prostate and seminal vesicle.