Assessment of PSCA antigen expression in prostate cancer tissues using antibody conjugated to super paramagnetic iron nanoparticles (SPIONs) . .

Abstract

Introduction: Prostate cancer is one of the most widespread cancers in the world. In this study a new diagnostic method was shown. We used the method of targeted conjugation of anti-prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) antibody with iron nanoparticles and evaluated the binding properties of this antibody to prostate cancer and benign tissues. Materials and methods: In the first phase of the project, antibodies produced against PSCA antigen were first purified from serum using nickel column chromatography and ELISA tests were performed to confirm the affinity and binding strength of the antibodies produced in the identification of recombinant and natural PSCA proteins. In the second phase of this project, the antibody was conjugated to the super paramagnetic iron nanoparticles by targeted conjugation method and prostate adenocarcinoma tissues in different grades along with BPH samples were exposed to it and after staining, iron was observed under a microscope and after immunohistochemical staining, similar slides were compared. Results: The results of ELISA analysis showed the accuracy of the purification process, specificity and high affinity of antibodies to PSCA protein. After conjugation with iron oxide nanoparticles, it was evaluated in adenocarcinoma and BPH tissues and the results of iron staining confirmed the success of the conjugation method and the specific binding of the conjugated compound to the PSCA proteins expressed in adenocarcinoma tissues. The intensity of the dye produced in iron staining was proportional to the tumor grade and these results were confirmed in comparison with immunohistochemical slides. Conclusion: In this study, iron staining in which polyclonal antibodies against PSCA were conjugated to superparamagnetic nanoparticles as with immunohistochemical staining, color intensity increased with increasing tumor grade. Finally, it can be used as a safe diagnostic method for IHC to detect prostate cancer.

Keywords: Immunohistochemistry, prostate stem cell antigen, superparamagnetism, tumor grade, prostate cancer, iron staining