Carbohydrate antigens are associated with
carcinogenesis,
cancer invasion, and
metastasis and their expression reflect biological activities of various
cancers. We previously reported that expression of disialosyl globopentaosyl
ceramide (DSGb5), one of
carbohydrate antigens, in radical
prostatectomy specimens independently predicted biochemical recurrence (i.e., elevating serum
prostate specific antigen without recurrent lesions in the image) after radical
prostatectomy. However, it is important to evaluate the prognosis at the diagnosis. In this study we investigated DSGb5 expression in prostate biopsy specimens to develop a novel
biomarker for providing appropriate management. Between 2005 and 2011, patients who underwent both prostate biopsy and radical
prostatectomy in our institution were included. The median follow-up period was 88 months. DSGb5 expression was assessed by immunohistochemical staining and defined 116 patients as high DSGb5 expression (42 patients) or low DSGb5 expression (74 patients). High DSGb5 expression was significantly associated with lymphovascular invasion in radical
prostatectomy specimens on both univariate and multivariable analyses (p = 0.028, 0.027). On multivariable analysis, Gleason Score in
prostatectomy specimen, positive
resection margin, and DSGb5 expression in the biopsy specimen were independently associated with biochemical recurrence-free survival following radical
prostatectomy (p = 0.004, 0.008, 0.024). When targeting only patients with negative
resection margin, DSGb5 expression was significantly associated with biochemical recurrence-free survival on both univariate and multivariable analyses (p = 0.006, 0.007). DSGb5 expression in prostate biopsy specimens is predictive of lymphovascular invasion and biochemical recurrence-free survival following radical
prostatectomy. DSGb5 is a potential
biomarker for preoperatively predicting oncological outcomes of
prostate cancer.