Objective: This study aimed to perform concomitant evaluation of the expressions of WT1 and E-cadherin in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN), and prostate acinar adenocarcinoma (PAC) and analyze the relationships of these potential markers with clinicopathological parameters.

Materials and Methods: The study included 60 cases of 38 PAC, 10 HGPIN, and 12 benign BPH tissues. E-cadherin and WT1 stains were applied by immunohistochemical method.

Results: In the PAC group, a significant increase in WT1 expression was determined compared to BPH (p<0.01). E-cadherin levels decreased significantly (p<0.05) in the PAC group compared to BHP. In PAC, E-cadherin expression (p<0.001) was decreased and WT1 expression (p<0.05) increased compared to HGPIN. However, no significant relationship (p>0.05) was detected between HGPIN and BPH. Also, an important relationship was detected between the Gleason score and the expressions of E-cadherin and WT1 (p<0.05). A significant relationship was also detected between E-cadherin expression and pT (p<0.05). There was no significant correlation between both markers and perineural, lymphovascular, and extraprostatic invasions (p>0.05). In addition, a negative correlation was found between E-cadherin and WT1 in PAC (r=-0.341; p=0.008).

Conclusion: After evaluating all the data together, it was concluded that WT1 expressed in PAC epithelial cells could suppress E-cadherin and promote the progression of the PAC.