Real-time RT-PCR analyses of microdissected normal and neoplastic epithelium revealed that the mean levels of SOX2 and NOTCH1 mRNA were considerably (p < 0.05) down-regulated in the neoplastic epithelial cell populations from both low- (SOX2: 65 times, NOTCH1: 7,5 times) and high- (11 times for both genes) grade PCa (with no appreciable difference between them) in comparison with the normal epithelium (Figure 7). This evidence concerns the gene SOX2 and posterior cortical atrophy.