Glyoxalase 1 (GLO1) is an enzyme involved in the detoxification of methylglyoxal (MG), a reactive oncometabolite formed in the context of energy metabolism as a result of high glycolytic flux. Prior clinical evidence has documented GLO1 upregulation in various tumor types including prostate cancer (PCa). However, GLO1 expression has not been explored in the context of PCa progression with a focus on high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN), a frequent precursor to invasive cancer. Here, we have evaluated GLO1 expression by immunohistochemistry in archival tumor samples from 187 PCa patients (stage 2 and 3). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed GLO1 upregulation during tumor progression, observable in HGPIN and PCa versus normal prostatic tissue. GLO1 upregulation was identified as a novel hallmark of HGPIN lesions, displaying the highest staining intensity in all clinical patient specimens. GLO1 expression correlated with intermediate–high risk Gleason grade but not with patient age, biochemical recurrence, or pathological stage. Our data identify upregulated GLO1 expression as a molecular hallmark of HGPIN lesions detectable by immunohistochemical analysis. Since current pathological assessment of HGPIN status solely depends on morphological features, GLO1 may serve as a novel diagnostic marker that identifies this precancerous lesion.
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