Exosome proteomic analyses identify inflammatory phenotype and novel biomarkers in African American prostate cancer patients

Chemical Affinity Capture of Plasma Extracellular Vesicles Enables Efficient and Large-Scale Proteomic Identification of Prostate Cancer Biomarkers

The serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing is widely used for prostate cancer (PCa) screening but suffers from poor specificity, leading to unnecessary biopsies and overtreatment. The significant potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in cancer diagnosis has driven the development of efficient methods to isolate and identify EV biomarkers from large-scale clinical samples. Here, we systematically evaluate five commonly used EV isolation techniques through proteomic profiling of plasma-derived EVs, endorsing TiO2-based chemical affinity capture as a superior approach for analyzing EVs from complex clinical samples. This method demonstrates exceptional advantages in speed, throughput, reproducibility, and protein coverage. Using this optimized workflow, we analyzed plasma EVs from 80 patients with PCa and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), identifying growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) as a compelling biomarker with a predictive power (AUC) of 0.908 for PCa. Extensive validation across independent cohorts comprising 457 samples, including plasma EVs and prostate tissues, confirmed GDF15's ability to distinguish PCa from BPH and stratify PCa stages. Notably, the combination of GDF15 with PSA further enhanced diagnostic efficiency, particularly for patients in the PSA diagnostic gray zone. This study establishes a robust workflow for EV protein analysis in large clinical cohorts and highlights EV-GDF15 as a promising biomarker for noninvasive PCa diagnosis.

Exosomes Released from Senescent Cells and Circulatory Exosomes Isolated from Human Plasma Reveal Aging-associated Proteomic and Lipid Signatures

Senescence emerged as significant mechanism of aging and age-related diseases, offering an attractive target for clinical interventions. Senescent cells release a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), including exosomes that may act as signal transducers between distal tissues, propagating secondary or bystander senescence and signaling throughout the body. However, the composition of exosome SASP remains underexplored, presenting an opportunity for novel unbiased discovery. We present a detailed proteomic and lipidomic analysis of exosome SASP using mass spectrometry from human plasma from young and older individuals and from tissue culture of senescent primary human lung fibroblasts. We identified ∼1,300 exosome proteins released by senescent cells induced by three different senescence inducers. In parallel, a human plasma cohort from young (20-26 years) and old (65-74 years) individuals revealed over 1,350 exosome proteins and 171 plasma exosome proteins were regulated when comparing old vs young individuals. Of the age-regulated plasma exosome proteins, we observed 52 exosome SASP factors that were also regulated in exosomes from the senescent fibroblasts, including serine protease inhibitors (SERPINs), Prothrombin, Coagulation factor V, Plasminogen, and Reelin. 247 lipids were identified in exosome samples. Following senescence induction, identified phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, and sphingomyelins increased significantly indicating cellular membrane changes. Interestingly, significantly changed proteins were related to extracellular matrix remodeling and inflammation, both potentially detrimental pathways that can damage surrounding tissues and even induce secondary senescence. Our findings reveal mechanistic insights and potential senescence biomarkers, enabling a better approach to surveilling the senescence burden in the aging population and offering therapeutic targets for interventions.

Understanding current trends and incidence projections of prostate cancer in India: A comprehensive analysis of national and regional data from the global burden of disease study (1990 -2021)

BACKGROUND

The study aims to explore the burden and trends of prostate cancer (PC) in India at the state level from 1990 to 2021, using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study.

METHODS

The health metrics including age-standardised incidence rates (ASIR), prevalence rates (ASPR), disability-adjusted life years (ASDR), and mortality rates (ASMR) per 100,000 for PC were analysed across Indian states and union territories. Join point regression analysis was employed to identify significant changes in these metrics over time. Projection of ASIR were done using auto-regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model.

RESULTS

The age-wise distribution of PC showed increased in ASIR, ASPR, ASDR, ASMR among older age, majorly in the 75-79 years age group. From 1990-2021, the average annual percentage change (AAPC) in ASIR, ASPR, ASMR and ASDR increased by 157 %, 278 %, 76 % and 58 % respectively. Projections indicate a further rise in ASIR to 9.15 per 100,000 by 2031. The join point analysis showed the highest annual percentage change (APC) between 1992 and 1995 period in all health metrics. Despite Gujarat state showing the highest total percentage change in all health metrics when considering regional variations, Delhi and Kerala still remain the highest overall.

CONCLUSION

The study emphasises the growing burden of PC in India, highlighting the need for improved diagnostic practices, localized screening guidelines, and targeted public health interventions.

The biological function of extracellular vesicles in prostate cancer and their clinical application as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies and main causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. It is characterized by high heterogeneity, ranging from slow-growing tumor to metastatic disease. Since both therapy selection and outcome strongly rely on appropriate patient stratification, it is crucial to differentiate benign from more aggressive conditions using new and improved diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-coated particles carrying a specific biological cargo composed of nucleic acids, proteins, and metabolites. Here, we provide an overview of the role of EVs in PCa, focusing on both their biological function and clinical value. Specifically, we summarize the oncogenic role of EVs in mediating the interactions with PCa microenvironment as well as the horizontal transfer of metastatic traits and drug resistance between PCa cells. Furthermore, we discuss the potential usage of EVs as innovative tools for PCa diagnosis and prognosis.

Advances in localized prostate cancer: A special focus on photothermal therapy

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a high prevalence disease, per 10000 habitants, that tends to increase with age. This pathology is difficult to detect at an early stage due to the absence of symptoms, hence the importance of monitoring signs for early detection. This disease can be detected by various methods, including plasmatic levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and rectal touch, with biopsy being necessary to confirm the diagnosis. Patients affected by prostate cancer can have localized or advanced disease. There are conventional approaches that have been used as a reference in localized cancer, such as active surveillance, surgery, or radiotherapy. However, the adverse effects might vary and, sometimes, they can be permanent. An overview about the innovative therapeutic approaches to improve outcomes in terms of both tumor remission and side effects for localized PCa is presented. In case of emerging light-based treatment strategies, they aimed at ablating tumor tissue by inducing an external light are non-invasive, localized and, considerably, they are able to reduce lesions in peripheral tissues. One is photodynamic therapy (PDT) and it involves the photooxidation of molecules culminating in the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), inducing cell death. On the other hand, photothermal therapy (PTT) is based on inducing hyperthermia in cancer cells by irradiating them with beams of light at a specific wavelength. To improve the heat generated, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have those desirable characteristics that have drawn attention to PTT. Various studies point to AuNPs as efficient nanomaterials in PTT for the treatment of tumors, including prostate cancer. This review includes the most representative advances in this research field, dated from 1998 to 2023. It is noticed that several advances have been made and the way to find the effective treatment without impacting adverse side effects is shorter.

Heme Oxygenase-1 and Prostate Cancer: Function, Regulation, and Implication in Cancer Therapy

Prostate cancer (PC) is a significant cause of mortality in men worldwide, hence the need for a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying its progression and resistance to treatment. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an inducible enzyme involved in heme catabolism, has emerged as a critical player in cancer biology, including PC. This review explores the multifaceted role of HO-1 in PC, encompassing its function, regulation, and implications in cancer therapy. HO-1 influences cell proliferation, anti-apoptotic pathways, angiogenesis, and the tumor microenvironment, thereby influencing tumor growth and metastasis. HO-1 has also been associated with therapy resistance, affecting response to standard treatments. Moreover, HO-1 plays a significant role in immune modulation, affecting the tumor immune microenvironment and potentially influencing therapy outcomes. Understanding the intricate balance of HO-1 in PC is vital for developing effective therapeutic strategies. This review further explores the potential of targeting HO-1 as a therapeutic approach, highlighting challenges and opportunities. Additionally, clinical implications are discussed, focusing on the prognostic value of HO-1 expression and the development of novel combined therapies to augment PC sensitivity to standard treatment strategies. Ultimately, unraveling the complexities of HO-1 in PC biology will provide critical insights into personalized treatment approaches for PC patients.

Ribosome-binding protein-1 (RRBP1) expression in prostate carcinomas and its relationship with clinicopathological prognostic factors

INTRODUCTION

Studies in recent years have shown that ribosome-binding protein-1 (RRBP1) is expressed at high rates in many cancers and that it may be a potential prognostic biomarker. The objective of the present study is to determine the RRBP1 expression level in prostatic carcinoma and neighboring non-neoplastic prostate tissue, the relationship between its expression level with prognostic factors, and the role of RRBP1 in the development of prostate cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 45 patients who were diagnosed with prostatic carcinoma and underwent radical prostatectomy in our center between the years 2010 and 2021. Pathology reports were reviewed. Mann-Whitney U test was used for the comparison of RRBP1 and GADPH values of the cases (control and tumoral tissue) between the primary tumor stage (pT) and Gleason score (GS) groups. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to explain the effective variables in explaining the RRBP1 value of the research cases.

RESULTS

According to the Mann-Whitney U test, mean and median RRBP1-T values of the cases with GS ≥ 8 were detected to be statistically significantly higher than the mean and median RRBP1-T values of the cases with GS < 8.

CONCLUSION

We found out that RRBP1 was expressed at higher rates in patients with high GS and advanced-stage patients. This result indicated that RRBP1 expression may be important in predicting the prognosis of prostate carcinoma.

Development and validation of a nomogram incorporating multi-parametric MRI and hematological indicators for discriminating benign from malignant central prostatic nodules: a retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer poses a significant risk to men's health. In this study, a model for differentiating benign and malignant nodules in the central region of the prostate was constructed by combining multi-parametric MRI and hematological lab values.

METHODS

This retrospective study analyzed the data acquired from Lianyungang First People's Hospital and The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical College from January 2018 to December 2021. We included 310 MRI-confirmed prostatic nodule patients. The data were split into a training set (260 cases) and an external validation set (50 cases), with the latter exclusively from The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical College to test the model's generalizability. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression identified critical measurements for differentiating prostate cancer (PCa) from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which were then integrated into a nomogram model.

RESULTS

The key indicators determined by multivariate logistic regression analysis included apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), standard deviation (StDev), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and prostate specific antigen (PSA). The nomogram's performance, as indicated by the area under the curve (AUC), was 0.844 (95% CI: 0.811-0.938) in the training set and 0.818 (95% CI: 0.644-0.980) in the external validation set. Calibration and decision curves demonstrated that the nomogram was well-calibrated and could serve as an effective tool in clinical practice.

CONCLUSION

The nomogram model based on ADC, StDev, NLR and PSA may be helpful to identify PCa and BPH.

Role of actin-binding proteins in prostate cancer

The molecular mechanisms driving the onset and metastasis of prostate cancer remain poorly understood. Actin, under the control of actin-binding proteins (ABPs), plays a crucial role in shaping the cellular cytoskeleton, which in turn supports the morphological alterations in normal cells, as well as the invasive spread of tumor cells. Previous research indicates that ABPs of various types serve distinct functions, and any disruptions in their activities could predispose individuals to prostate cancer. These ABPs are intricately implicated in the initiation and advancement of prostate cancer through a complex array of intracellular processes, such as severing, linking, nucleating, inducing branching, assembling, facilitating actin filament elongation, terminating elongation, and promoting actin molecule aggregation. As such, this review synthesizes existing literature on several ABPs linked to prostate cancer, including cofilin, filamin A, and fascin, with the aim of shedding light on the molecular mechanisms through which ABPs influence prostate cancer development and identifying potential therapeutic targets. Ultimately, this comprehensive examination seeks to contribute to the understanding and management of prostate diseases.

Small extracellular vesicles: Roles and clinical application in prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is a significant health problem in the United States. It is remarkably heterogenous, ranging from slow growing disease amenable to active surveillance to highly aggressive forms requiring active treatments. Therefore, being able to precisely determine the nature of disease and appropriately match patients to available and/or novel therapeutics is crucial to improve patients' overall outcome and quality of life. Recently small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), a subset of nanoscale membranous vesicles secreted by various cells, have emerged as important analytes for liquid biopsy and promising vehicles for drug delivery. sEVs contain various biomolecules such as genetic material, proteins, and lipids that recapitulate the characteristics and state of their donor cells. The application of existing and newly developed technologies has resulted in an increased depth of knowledge about biophysical structures, biogenesis, and functions of sEVs. In prostate cancer patients, tumor-derived sEVs can be isolated from biofluids, commonly urine and blood. They mediate intercellular signaling within the tumor microenvironment and distal organ-specific sites, supporting cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis. A mounting body of evidence suggests that sEV components can be potent biomarkers for prostate cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of disease progression and treatment response. Due to enhanced circulation stability and bio-barrier permeability, sEVs can be also used as effective drug delivery carriers to improve the efficacy and specificity of anti-tumor therapies. This review discusses recent studies on sEVs in prostate cancer and is focused on their role as biomarkers and drug delivery vehicles in the clinical management of prostate cancer.

Prioritization of genes for translation: a computational approach

INTRODUCTION

Gene identification for genetic diseases is critical for the development of new diagnostic approaches and personalized treatment options. Prioritization of gene translation is an important consideration in the molecular biology field, allowing researchers to focus on the most promising candidates for further investigation.

AREAS COVERED

In this paper, we discussed different approaches to prioritize genes for translation, including the use of computational tools and machine learning algorithms, as well as experimental techniques such as knockdown and overexpression studies. We also explored the potential biases and limitations of these approaches and proposed strategies to improve the accuracy and reliability of gene prioritization methods. Although numerous computational methods have been developed for this purpose, there is a need for computational methods that incorporate tissue-specific information to enable more accurate prioritization of candidate genes. Such methods should provide tissue-specific predictions, insights into underlying disease mechanisms, and more accurate prioritization of genes.

EXPERT OPINION

Using advanced computational tools and machine learning algorithms to prioritize genes, we can identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention of complex diseases. This represents an up-and-coming method for drug development and personalized medicine.

An unusual presentation of metastatic prostate cancer in a 44-year-old man: A case report and review of the literature

Prostate cancer is one of the two most common non-cutaneous cancers in men. Its presentation might be with unusual symptoms and cause the wrong initial diagnosis. This case report discusses a rare neurologic manifestation of advanced metastatic cancer in a low-risk man. He had been receiving treatment for multiple sclerosis incorrectly due to unusual manifestations such as claudication and pelvic, leg, and shoulder pain. The patient underwent a whole-body bone scan and then a transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy, which confirmed metastatic prostate cancer with a Gleason score between 7/10 and 10/10 in all samples. Following treatment with chemotherapeutic injections (docetaxel), luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogous (Zoladex), and testosterone-suppressing tablets (abiraterone), the disease has been under control and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level has decreased significantly. The most common sites of metastasis are regional lymph nodes, bones, and lungs. However, there are reports about the spread of this type of cancer to other parts of the body. Although most patients are diagnosed when the tumor is localized to the prostate, in about 25% of patients, the disease is diagnosed when metastasis has occurred. Some markers can assist physicians in the diagnosis of this disease, such as the Prostate Health Index and the 4 K score.

Key Clinical Message

The diagnosis of prostate cancer should be considered in all age ranges of adult men. The long-distance metastasis might cause unusual presentations of the disease, such as neurologic, musculoskeletal, and dermatologic symptoms and signs far from the origin of the cancer, before genitourinary manifestations. It is crucial to keep the diagnosis of prostate cancer in mind for men with suggestive signs and symptoms that are not usually detected in this disease.

Bridging Health Disparities: a Genomics and Transcriptomics Analysis by Race in Prostate Cancer

As the era of cancer genomics expands, disproportionate rates of prostate cancer incidence and mortality by race have demonstrated increasing relevance in clinical settings. While Black men are most particularly affected, as data has historically shown, the opposite is observed for Asian men, thus creating a basis for exploring genomic pathways potentially involved in mediating these opposing trends. Studies on racial differences are limited by sample size, but recent expanding collaborations between research institutions may improve these imbalances to enhance investigations on health disparities from the genomics front. In this study, we performed a race genomics analysis using GENIE v11, released in January 2022, to investigate mutation and copy number frequencies of select genes in both primary and metastatic patient tumor samples. Further, we investigate the TCGA race cohort to conduct an ancestry analysis and to identify differentially expressed genes highly upregulated in one race and subsequently downregulated in another. Our findings highlight pathway-oriented genetic mutation frequencies characterized by race, and further, we identify candidate gene transcripts that have differential expression between Black and Asian men.

Prostate cancer-derived small extracellular vesicle proteins: the hope in diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutics

Current diagnostic tools for prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis and risk stratification are insufficient. The hidden onset and poor efficacy of traditional therapies against metastatic PCa make this disease a heavy burden in global men's health. Prostate cancer-derived extracellular vesicles (PCDEVs) have garnered attention in recent years due to their important role in communications in tumor microenvironment. Recent advancements have demonstrated PCDEVs proteins play an important role in PCa invasion, progression, metastasis, therapeutic resistance, and immune escape. In this review, we briefly discuss the applications of sEV proteins in PCa diagnosis and prognosis in liquid biopsy, focus on the roles of the PCa-derived small EVs (sEVs) proteins in tumor microenvironment associated with cancer progression, and explore the therapeutic potential of sEV proteins applied for future metastatic PCa therapy.

The Risk Factors and Screening Uptake for Prostate Cancer: A Scoping Review

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this scoping review was to identify the risk factors and screening uptake for prostate cancer.

DESIGN

Scoping review.

METHODS

Arksey and O'Malley's framework guided this review; five databases (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Academic Search Complete and Cochrane Library) and grey literature were searched. Screening was undertaken against predetermined inclusion criteria for articles published before July 2023 and written in English. This review is reported in line with PRISMA-Sc.

RESULTS

10,899 database results were identified; 3676 papers were removed as duplicates and 7115 papers were excluded at title and abstract review. A total of 108 papers were full-text reviewed and 67 were included in the review. Grey literature searching yielded no results. Age, family history/genetics, hormones, race/ethnicity, exposure to hazards, geographical location and diet were identified as risk factors. Prostatic antigen test (PSA), digital rectal examination (DRE), transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) and prostate biopsy were identified as screening/diagnostic methods. The evidence reviewed highlights moderate knowledge and screening uptake of prostate cancer with less than half of men reporting for PSA screening. On the other hand, there is a year-to-year increase in PSA and DRE screening, but factors such as poverty, religion, culture, communication barriers, language and costs affect men's uptake of prostate cancer screening.

CONCLUSION

As prostate cancer rates increase globally, there is a need for greater uptake of prostate cancer screening and improved health literacy among men and health workers. There is a need to develop a comprehensive prostate cancer awareness and screening programme that targets men and addresses uptake issues so as to provide safe, quality care.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF THIS STUDY

(1) A broad search strategy was utilised incorporating both databases and grey literature. (2) The PRISMA reporting guidelines were utilised. (3) Only English language papers were included, and this may have resulted in relevant articles being omitted.

The prevalence of prostate cancer in Pakistan: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Prostate cancer is a significant public health issue, ranking as the second most common cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men. In Pakistan, the prevalence of prostate cancer varies significantly across published articles. This study aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of prostate cancer and its associated risk factors in Pakistan.

Methods

MEDLINE (via PubMed), Web of Science, Google Scholar, and local databases were searched from inception until March 2023, using key search terms related to the prevalence of prostate cancer. We considered a random-effects meta-analysis to derive the pooled prevalence and relative risks with 95% CIs. Two investigators independently screened articles and performed data extraction and risk of bias analysis. We also conducted meta-regression analysis and stratification to investigate heterogeneity. This study protocol was registered at PROSPERO, number CRD42022376061.

Results

Our meta-analysis incorporated 11 articles with a total sample size of 184,384. The overall pooled prevalence of prostate cancer was 5.20% (95% CI: 3.72-6.90%), with substantial heterogeneity among estimates (I2 = 98.5%). The 95% prediction interval of prostate cancer was ranged from 1.74%-10.35%. Subgroup meta-analysis revealed that the highest pooled prevalence of prostate cancer was in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (8.29%; 95% CI: 6.13-10.74%, n = 1), followed by Punjab (8.09%; 95% CI:7.36-8.86%, n = 3), while the lowest was found in Sindh (3.30%; 95% CI: 2.37-4.38%, n = 5). From 2000 to 2010 to 2011-2023, the prevalence of prostate cancer increased significantly from 3.88% (95% CI: 2.72-5.23%) to 5.80% (95% CI: 3.76-8.24%).

Conclusions

Our meta-analysis provides essential insights into the prevalence of prostate cancer in Pakistan, highlighting the need for continued research and interventions to address this pressing health issue.

Indole alkaloids from marine resources: Understandings from therapeutic point of view to treat cancers

Cancer is the leading cause of mortality all over the world. Scientific investigation has demonstrated that disruptions in the process of autophagy are frequently interrelated with the emergence of cancer. Hence, scientists are seeking permanent solutions to counter the deadly disease. Indole alkaloids have been extensively studied and are acknowledged to exhibit several bioactivities. The current state of disease necessitates novel pharmacophores development. In recent decades, indole alkaloids have become increasingly significant in cancer treatment and are also used as adjuvants. A substantial amount of pharmacologically active molecules come from indole alkaloids, which are widely distributed in nature. Indole alkaloids derived from marine organisms show immense potential for therapeutic applications and seem highly effective in cancer treatment. A couple of experiments have been conducted preclinically to investigate the possibility of indole alkaloids in cancer treatment. Marine-derived indole alkaloids possess the ability to exhibit anticancer properties through diverse antiproliferative mechanisms. Certain indole alkaloids, including vincristine and vinblastine, were verified in clinical trials or are presently undergoing clinical assessments for preventing and treating cancer. Indole alkaloids from marine resources hold a significant functionality in identifying new antitumor agents. The current literature highlights recent advancements in indole alkaloids that appear to be anticancer agents and the underlying mechanisms.

NKX3.1 Expression Contributes to Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Prostate Cancer Cells

Studies demonstrate that inflammation synergizes with high-grade aggressive prostate tumor development and ultimately metastatic spread, in which a lot of work has been done in recent years. However, the clear mechanism of inflammation inciting prostate cancer remains largely uncharacterized. Our previous study has shown that the conditioned media (CM)-mediated LNCaP cell migration is partially correlated with the loss of expression of the tumor suppressor NKX3.1. Here, we continue to investigate the inflammation-mediated migration of prostate cancer cells, and the role of NKX3.1 in this process to gain insights into cell migration-related changes comprehensively. Earlier, the model of inflammation in the tumor microenvironment have been optimized by our research group; here, we continue to investigate the time-dependent effect of CM exposure together with NKX3.1 changes, in which we observed that these changes play important roles in gaining heterogeneous epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype. Hence, this is an important parameter of tumor progression; we depleted NKX3.1 expression using the CRISPR/Cas9 system and examined the migrating cell clusters after exposure to inflammatory cytokines. We found that the migrated cells clearly demonstrate reversible loss of E-cadherin expression, which is consistent with subsequent vimentin expression alterations in comparison to control cells. Moreover, the data suggest that the AR-mediated transcriptional program also contributes to mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) in prostate cancer progression. Furthermore, the quantitative proteomic analysis showed that migrated subpopulations from the same cell line presented different phenotypes in which the proteins overexpressed are involved in cell metabolism and RNA processing. According to KEGG pathway analysis, the ABC transporters were found to be the most significant. Thus, the dynamic process of cellular migration favors diverse genetic compositions under changing tumor microenvironments. The different levels of invasiveness are supported by shifting the cells in between these EMT and MET phenotypes.

Mutational spectrum of DNA damage and mismatch repair genes in prostate cancer

Over the past few years, a number of studies have revealed that a significant number of men with prostate cancer had genetic defects in the DNA damage repair gene response and mismatch repair genes. Certain of these modifications, notably gene alterations known as homologous recombination (HRR) genes; PALB2, CHEK2 BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, and genes for DNA mismatch repair (MMR); MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2 are connected to a higher risk of prostate cancer and more severe types of the disease. The DNA damage repair (DDR) is essential for constructing and diversifying the antigen receptor genes required for T and B cell development. But this DDR imbalance results in stress on DNA replication and transcription, accumulation of mutations, and even cell death, which compromises tissue homeostasis. Due to these impacts of DDR anomalies, tumor immunity may be impacted, which may encourage the growth of tumors, the release of inflammatory cytokines, and aberrant immune reactions. In a similar vein, people who have altered MMR gene may benefit greatly from immunotherapy. Therefore, for these treatments, mutational genetic testing is indicated. Mismatch repair gene (MMR) defects are also more prevalent than previously thought, especially in patients with metastatic disease, high Gleason scores, and diverse histologies. This review summarizes the current information on the mutation spectrum and clinical significance of DDR mechanisms, such as HRR and MMR abnormalities in prostate cancer, and explains how patient management is evolving as a result of this understanding.

Plasma exosomal protein PLG and SERPINA1 in colorectal cancer diagnosis and coagulation abnormalities

PURPOSE

Early diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) is critical to patient prognosis; however, there is lack of non-invasive biomarkers that are extremely sensitive and specific for early screening and diagnosis. Exosomes are a novel tool applied to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Changes in plasma exosomal proteins have a certain relationship with the development of various diseases including tumors. Here, we aimed to find exosomal biomarkers for early diagnosis of CRC.

METHODS

Exosomes obtained by ultracentrifugation from CRC patients and healthy donors were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), qNano and western blotting. Proteomic and functional enrichment analyses confirmed differences in the specific expression of exosomal proteins in plasma between CRC patients and healthy donors. Western blotting with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to verify the difference proteins. Statistical methods were used to analyze the relationship between protein levels and CRC.

RESULTS

The expression levels of serpin peptidase inhibitor clade A member 1 (SERPINA1) and fibrinogen (PLG) in CRC patients were significantly higher than those in healthy groups. Receptor operating characteristic (ROC) curves analysis was superior to CEA and CA19-9 for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer and early-stage colorectal cancer. The two were related to TNM staging and coagulation, and the difference was statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study have potential value in advancing the clinical diagnosis of colorectal cancer.

Synthesis of Quinoline-2-Carboxylic Acid Aryl Ester and Its Apoptotic Action on PC3 Prostate Cancer Cell Line

The aim of the present study is to synthesise an aryl ester compound from quinoline-2-carboxylic acid to evaluate its apoptotic, cell cycle blockade, and antiproliferative activity on the prostate cancer cell lines (PC3). Chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis was used to identify the synthesised carboxylic acid compound. The synthesised compound was treated with a PC3 cell line for 24 h with control. The cells were treated at various concentration ranges of 0, 3.91, 7.81, 15.63, 31.25, 62.5, 125, 250, 500, and 1000 µg/mL each. The cytotoxicity effect was studied by MTT assay, and their anticancer activity was further evaluated using cell cycle analysis, DNA fragmentation assay, acridine orange-ethidium bromide staining, and Western blot analysis. The end antiproliferative result showed that PC3 cell viability decreases in a concentration-dependent manner and the synthesised compound exhibited potent cytotoxicity against PC3 cells with an IC50 value of 26 µg/mL at the concentration of 125 µg. The increase in the number of apoptotic cells was observed after treating PC3 cells with the sample in double-staining methods. S phase of the cell cycle was significantly blocked by the test sample, and a typical ladder pattern of internucleosomal fragmentation was observed. A decrease in the live cells was observed with the sample in AO/ET-BR. A significant increase in the Bax expression and a decrease in Bcl-2 expression observed enhance the activity of caspases-7 and -9. The synthesised compound had shown to possess excellent cytotoxic effect through inducing apoptosis, especially causing cell cycle arrest at the S phase.

A Liquid Biopsy-Based Approach to Isolate and Characterize Adipose Tissue-Derived Extracellular Vesicles from Blood

Obesity is a major risk factor for multiple chronic diseases. Anthropometric and imaging approaches are primarily used to assess adiposity, and there is a dearth of techniques to determine the changes in adipose tissue (AT) at the molecular level. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as a novel and less invasive source of biomarkers for various pathologies. Furthermore, the possibility of enriching cell or tissue-specific EVs from the biofluids based on their unique surface markers has led to classifying these vesicles as "liquid biopsies", offering valuable molecular information on hard-to-access tissues. Here, we isolated small EVs from AT (sEVAT) of lean and diet-induced obese (DIO) mice, identified unique surface proteins on sEVAT by surface shaving followed by mass spectrometry, and developed a signature of five unique proteins. Using this signature, we pulled out sEVAT from the blood of mice and validated the specificity of isolated sEVAT by measuring the expression of adiponectin, 38 adipokines on an array, and several adipose tissue-related miRNAs. Furthermore, we provided evidence of sEV applicability in disease prediction by characterizing sEVAT from the blood of lean and DIO mice. Interestingly, sEVAT-DIO cargo showed a stronger pro-inflammatory effect on THP1 monocytes compared to sEVAT-Lean and a significant increase in obesity-associated miRNA expression. Equally important, sEVAT cargo revealed an obesity-associated aberrant amino acid metabolism that was subsequently validated in the corresponding AT. Lastly, we show a significant increase in inflammation-related molecules in sEVAT isolated from the blood of nondiabetic obese (>30 kg/m2) individuals. Overall, the present study offers a less-invasive approach to characterize AT.

A guide to mass spectrometric analysis of extracellular vesicle proteins for biomarker discovery

Exosomes (small extracellular vesicles) in living organisms play an important role in processes such as cell proliferation or intercellular communication. Recently, exosomes have been extensively investigated for biomarker discoveries for various diseases. An important aspect of exosome analysis involves the development of enrichment methods that have been introduced for successful isolation of exosomes. These methods include ultracentrifugation, size exclusion chromatography, polyethylene glycol-based precipitation, immunoaffinity-based enrichment, ultrafiltration, and asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation among others. To confirm the presence of exosomes, various characterization methods have been utilized such as Western blot analysis, atomic force microscopy, electron microscopy, optical methods, zeta potential, visual inspection, and mass spectrometry. Recent advances in high-resolution separations, high-performance mass spectrometry and comprehensive proteome databases have all contributed to the successful analysis of exosomes from patient samples. Herein we review various exosome enrichment methods, characterization methods, and recent trends of exosome investigations using mass spectrometry-based approaches for biomarker discovery.

The Roles of Exosomal Proteins: Classification, Function, and Applications

Exosome, a subpopulation of extracellular vesicles, plays diverse roles in various biological processes. As one of the most abundant components of exosomes, exosomal proteins have been revealed to participate in the development of many diseases, such as carcinoma, sarcoma, melanoma, neurological disorders, immune responses, cardiovascular diseases, and infection. Thus, understanding the functions and mechanisms of exosomal proteins potentially assists clinical diagnosis and targeted delivery of therapies. However, current knowledge about the function and application of exosomal proteins is still limited. In this review, we summarize the classification of exosomal proteins, and the roles of exosomal proteins in exosome biogenesis and disease development, as well as in the clinical applications.

Imaging Recommendations for Diagnosis, Staging, and Management of Prostate Cancer

The Prostate Carcinoma Guidelines Panel have formulated these guidelines to assist medical professionals in the evidence-based management of prostate cancer. These have been formulated by a panel consisting of Indian multidisciplinary group of radiologists, uro-oncologists, urologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, and pathologists. These recommendations present the best evidence available to the clinicians; however, using these recommendations will not always result in the best outcome. They aid in decision making for individual patients; however, these will never replace clinical expertise when making treatment decisions. Taking personal values and preferences or individual circumstances of patients into account is necessary for final treatment decision. Guidelines are not mandatory and should not to be referred as a legal standard of care.

Immunological analysis of Interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), and Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in benign and malignant prostate cancer

INTRODUCTION

Among the cancers that impacts men, prostate cancer considerably raises deaths for males around the world. Persons with tumours can have a localized or advanced form of the illness.

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to determining the relationship between the level of cytokines (IL-10 and TNF-a) and PSA in the sera of patients and compared it with healthy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A case control study consist of three group included was in this study. The first group involves 50 patients with PC were observation in Al-Amal Oncology Hospital in the period from April 2021 to April 2022 under the supervision of oncology specialists was included in this study. Second group consist of 30 patients. They have benign hyper plaisa (BHP), this group has been collected from urosergical department . Third group was include 20 healthy volunteers (non prostate cancer and non BHP). Prostate specific antigen (PSA) was measured by mini - VIDAS device using kit supplied by Biomerieux - France. IL-10 and TNF-a levels were measured by ELISA technique using kit supplied by CAUSABIO - China.

RESULTS

Results of the present study showed the 60-69 years age group scored highest percentage in benign (56.7%), malignant (54.0%), compared to control (healthy) (50.0%), while > 69 years scored least percentage in these groups (3.3%, 14.0%, and 25.0%) respectively with significant different (p< 0.05). Additionally, the IL-10 and PSA scored highest mean levels in the malignant group (1.22 ± 0.23 and 27.66 ± 6.31), while TNF-a scored highest mean levels in a benign group (0.30 ± 0.11). The least mean level of IL-10 was in healthy (0.42 ± 0.15), TNF-a in malignant (0.23 ± 0.03), and PSA in benign (6.73 ± 1.36). Finally, there is a significant difference among age groups and PSA, IL-10, and TNF-parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

We concluded the PSA, TNF-a and IL-10 parameters are play important roles in pathogenesis patients with prostate cancer. PCa is high prevalence in elderly population.

Risk of Prostate Cancer in Chronic Kidney Disease Patient: A Meta-Analysis using Observational Studies

Background

Both clinical and experimental findings demonstrated a rise in prostate cancer in chronic renal illness. However, the clinical data associated with CKD was not looked at the context of prostate cancer. The study aims to investigate prostate cancer risk in CKD patients using clinical data via systemic review and meta-analysis.

Materials and Methods

Using pertinent pairing keywords, I carried out a thorough exploration of PubMed/MEDLINE and Web of Science. The pooled HR with 95% CI of the considered clinical findings was estimated involving the general inverse variance outcome type. With RevMan 5.3, the total pooled estimate meta-analysis was evaluated utilizing the random effects model.

Results

Total of six findings were considered for this analysis, with a total of 2,430,246 participants. The age and mean follow-up of the included patients and studies ranged from 55 to 67.4 years and 10.1 to 12 years, respectively. The meta-analysis showed no significant risk of prostate cancer among CKD patients (HR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.60-1.41; P = 0.70). The results from subgroup analysis based on eGFR levels ranged ≥30-59 ml/min per 1.73 m2 and also found no significant risk of prostate cancer among CKD patients (HR: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.92-1.18; P = 0.52). Here I did not report statistical heterogeneity found (Q = 0.56, I2 = 0%, P = 0.87). As per the Newcastle-Ottawa scale, the included studies suggested good quality.

Conclusion

The results suggest no significant risk of developing prostate cancer among CKD patients. Therefore, well-designed prospective cohort studies with stages of CKD and clear predefined prior history and causative factors are needed to support the present evidence strongly.

MiR-145 inhibits cell migration and increases paclitaxel chemosensitivity in prostate cancer cells

Objectives

Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies among men worldwide. Paclitaxel is a chemotherapeutic agent widely used to treat different types of cancer. Recent studies revealed miRNAs control various genes that influence the regulation of many biological and pathological processes such as the formation and development of cancer, chemotherapy resistance, etc.

Materials and Methods

Between three PC cell lines (PC3, DU-145, LNCAP), PC3 showed the lowest miR-145 expression and was chosen for experiments. PC3 cells were treated with paclitaxel and miR-145 separately or in combination. To measure the cell viability, migratory capacity, autophagy, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis induction, the MTT assay, wound-healing assay, and Annexin V/PI apoptosis assay were used, respectively. Moreover, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was employed to measure the expression level of genes involved in apoptosis, migration, and stemness properties.

Results

Obtained results illustrated that miR-145 transfection could enhance the sensitivity of PC3 cells to paclitaxel and increase paclitaxel-induced apoptosis by modulating the expression of related genes, including Caspase-3, Caspase-9, Bax, and Bcl-2. Also, results showed combination therapy increased cell cycle arrest at the sub-G1 phase. miR-145 and paclitaxel cooperatively reduced migration ability and related-metastatic and stemness gene expression, including MMP-2, MMP-9, CD44, and SOX-2. In addition, combination therapy can suppress MDR1 expression.

Conclusion

These results confirmed that miR-145 combined with paclitaxel cooperatively could inhibit cell proliferation and migration and increase the chemosensitivity of PC3 cells compared to mono treatment. So, miR-145 combination therapy may be used as a promising approach for PC treatment.

8-Hydroxy-2-Deoxyguanosine and 8-Iso-Prostaglandin F2α: Putative Biomarkers to assess Oxidative Stress Damage Following Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP)

Objective: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common type of cancer. Biomarkers help researchers to understand the mechanisms of disease and refine diagnostic panels. We measured urinary 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-IsoF2α) to assess oxidative stress damage in PCa patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Methods: Forty PCa patients were enrolled in the study. Urine was collected before (T0) and 3 months after the RARP procedure (T1). 8-OHdG and 8-IsoF2α were measured through liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Sex- and age-matched healthy subjects served as controls (CTRL). Results: At T0, patients exhibited significantly higher levels of 8-OHdG than CTRL (p = 0.026). At T1, 23/40 patients who completed the 3-month follow-up showed levels of 8-OHdG that were significantly lower than at T0 (p = 0.042), and comparable to those of the CTRL subjects (p = 0.683). At T0, 8-Iso-PGF2α levels were significantly higher in PCa patients than in CTRL subjects (p = 0.0002). At T1, 8-Iso-PGF2α levels were significantly lower than at T0 (p < 0.001) and were comparable to those of CTRL patients (p = 0.087). Conclusions: A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method reveals enhanced OHdG and 8-Iso-PGF2α in the urine of PCa patients. RARP normalizes such indices of oxidative stress. Large-sized sample studies and long-term follow-ups are now needed to validate these urinary biomarkers for use in the early prevention and successful treatment of PCa.

Review of prostate cancer genomic studies in Africa

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most commonly diagnosed in men worldwide and one of the most frequent cancers in men in Africa. The heterogeneity of this cancer fosters the need to identify potential genetic risk factors/biomarkers. Omics variations may significantly contribute to early diagnosis and personalized treatment. However, there are few genomic studies of this disease in African populations. This review sheds light on the status of genomics research on PCa in Africa and outlines the common variants identified thus far. The allele frequencies of the most significant SNPs in Afro-native, Afro-descendants, and European populations were compared. We advocate how these few but promising data will aid in understanding, better diagnosing, and precisely treating this cancer and the need for further collaborative research on the genomics of PCa in the African continent.

Small extracellular vesicles as a multicomponent biomarker platform in urinary tract carcinomas

Extracellular vesicles are a large group of nano-sized vesicles released by all cells. The variety of possible cargo (mRNAs, miRNAs, lncRNAs, proteins, and lipids) and the presence of surface proteins, signaling molecules, and receptor ligands make them a rich source of biomarkers for malignancy diagnosis. One of the groups gathering the most interest in cancer diagnostic applications is small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), with ≤200 nm diameter, mainly composed of exosomes. Many studies were conducted recently, evaluating the diagnostic potential of sEVs in urinary tract carcinomas (UTCs), discovering and clinically evaluating various classes of biomarkers. The amount of research concerning different types of UTCs understandably reflects their incidence. sEV cargos getting the most interest are non-coding RNAs (miRNA and lncRNA). However, implementation of other approaches such as metabolomic and proteomic analysis is also evaluated. The results of many studies indicate that sEVs have an essential role in the cancer process and possess many possible diagnostic and prognostic applications for UTC. The relative ease of obtaining biofluids rich in sEVs (urine and blood) confirms that sEVs are essential for UTC detection in the liquid biopsy approach. A noticeable rise in research quality is observed as more researchers are aware of the research standardization necessity, which is essential for considering the clinical application of their findings.

Advances and development of prostate cancer, treatment, and strategies: A systemic review

The most common type of cancer in the present-day world affecting modern-day men after lung cancer is prostate cancer. Prostate cancer remains on the list of top three cancer types claiming the highest number of male lives. An estimated 1.4 million new cases were reported worldwide in 2020. The incidence of prostate cancer is found predominantly in the regions having a high human development index. Despite the fact that considerable success has been achieved in the treatment and management of prostate cancer, it remains a challenge for scientists and clinicians to curve the speedy advancement of the said cancer type. The most common risk factor of prostate cancer is age; men tend to become more vulnerable to prostate cancer as they grow older. Commonly men in the age group of 66 years and above are the most vulnerable population to develop prostate cancer. The gulf countries are not far behind when it came to accounting for the number of individuals falling prey to the deadly cancer type in recent times. There has been a consistent increase in the incidence of prostate cancer in the gulf countries in the past decade. The present review aims at discussing the development, diagnostics via machine learning, and implementation of treatment of prostate cancer with a special focus on nanotherapeutics, in the gulf countries.

Mesenchymal stem cells and prostate cancer: A concise review of therapeutic potentials and biological aspects

Prostate cancer (PCa) arises from a cancer stem or progenitor cell with homogenous characteristics, especially among the aging men population. Over the past decade, the increasing PCa incidence has led to significant changes in both disease diagnosis and treatment. Recently, the therapeutic aspects of stem cells in many cancers, including PCa, have been debatable. The new generation of PCa studies seek to present definitive treatments with reduced therapeutic side effects. Since discovering unique properties of stem cells in modulating immunity, selective migration to inflammatory regions, and secretion of various growth factors, they have been a promising therapeutic target. The existing properties of stem cell therapy bring new opportunities for cancer inhibition: transferring chemotherapeutics, activating prodrugs, affecting the expression of genes involved in cancer, genetically modifying the production of anti-cancer compounds, proteins, and/or deriving extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing therapeutic agents from stem cells. However, their dual properties in carcinogenicity as well as their ability to inhibit cancer result in particular limitations studying them after administration. A clear understanding of the interaction between MSCs and the prostate cancer microenvironment will provide crucial information in revealing the precise applications and new practical protocols for clinical use of these cells..

The Impact of Lifestyle on Prostate Cancer: A Road to the Discovery of New Biomarkers

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers among men, and its incidence has been rising through the years. Several risk factors have been associated with this disease and unhealthy lifestyles and inflammation were appointed as major contributors for PCa development, progression, and severity. Despite the advantages associated with the currently used diagnostic tools [prostate-specific antigen(PSA) serum levels and digital rectal examination (DRE)], the development of effective approaches for PCa diagnosis is still necessary. Finding lifestyle-associated proteins that may predict the development of PCa seems to be a promising strategy to improve PCa diagnosis. In this context, several biomarkers have been identified, including circulating biomarkers (CRP, insulin, C-peptide, TNFα-R2, adiponectin, IL-6, total PSA, free PSA, and p2PSA), urine biomarkers (PCA3, guanidine, phenylacetylglycine, and glycine), proteins expressed in exosomes (afamin, vitamin D-binding protein, and filamin A), and miRNAs expressed in prostate tissue (miRNA-21, miRNA-101, and miRNA-182). In conclusion, exploring the impact of lifestyle and inflammation on PCa development and progression may open doors to the identification of new biomarkers. The discovery of new PCa diagnostic biomarkers should contribute to reduce overdiagnosis and overtreatment.

Role of Genetic Variations in CDK2, CCNE1 and p27KIP1 in Prostate Cancer

BACKGROUND/AIM

Our aim was to investigate possible influences of genetic variants in genes involved in the G₁/S transition [cyclin-dependent kinase-2 (CDK2), cyclin E1 (CCNE1) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B (p27^KIP1)] on the expression/activity of their corresponding proteins and to assess the functional impact of these variants on the risk of prostate cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We genotyped 530 cases and 562 healthy controls for two relevant single nucleotide polymorphisms (CDK2 rs2069408 and CCNE1 rs997669) by TaqMan genotyping assay. p27^KIP1 rs2066827 polymorphisms were studied by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. In addition, the expression of CDK2, CCNE1 and p27^KIP1 was evaluated by quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting in 44 prostate cancer tissues and 31 benign prostatic hyperplasia tissues.

RESULTS

No association was found between CDK2 rs2069408, CCNE1 rs997669 or p27^KIP1 rs2066827 polymorphisms and an increased risk of prostate cancer development. Higher CDK2 expression was more prevalent in those with rs2069408 GG genotype than in AA carriers (p>0.05). We also noted reduced p27^KIP1 protein expression in those with the p27^KIP1 G109 allele. No difference was observed for CCNE1 expression in relation to the risky genotype (CC). A significant association was detected between CCNE1 mRNA overexpression and development of higher-grade carcinomas (Gleason score >7, p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Polymorphisms CDK2 rs2069408, CCNE1 rs997669 and p27^KIP1 rs2066827 have no significant impact on prostate cancer risk nor on the gene and protein expression of CDK2, CCNE1 and p27^KIP1, although high CCNE1 expression was significantly associated with a higher tumour grade in patients with prostate cancer.

Gut environment changes due to androgen deprivation therapy in patients with prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

It is estimated that by 2040 there will be 1,017,712 new cases of prostate cancer worldwide. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is widely used as a treatment option for all disease stages. ADT, and the resulting decline in androgen levels, may indirectly affect gut microbiota. Factors affecting gut microbiota are wide-ranging; however, literature is scarce on the effects of ADT on gut microbiota and metabolome profiles in patients with prostate cancer.

METHODS

To study the changes of gut microbiome by ADT, this 24-week observational study investigated the relationship between testosterone levels and changes in gut microbiota in Japanese patients with prostate cancer undergoing ADT. Sequential faecal samples were collected 1 and 2 weeks before ADT, and 1, 4, 12, and 24 weeks after ADT. Blood samples were collected at almost the same times. Bacterial 16 S rRNA gene-based microbiome analyses and capillary electrophoresis-time-of-flight mass spectrometry-based metabolome analyses were performed.

RESULTS

In total, 23 patients completed the study. The α- and ß-diversity of gut microbiota decreased significantly at 24 weeks after ADT (p = 0.017, p < 0.001, respectively). Relative abundances of Proteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Pseudomonadales, Pseudomonas, and concentrations of urea, lactate, butyrate, 2-hydroxyisobutyrate and S-adenosylmethionine changed significantly after ADT (p < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between the abundance of Proteobacteria, a known indicator of dysbiosis, and the concentration of lactate (R = 0.49, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The decline in testosterone levels resulted in detrimental changes in gut microbiota. This dysbiosis may contribute to an increase in frailty and an increased risk of adverse outcomes in patients with prostate cancer.

Increasing the uptake in a general practice prostate cancer screening programme

Background

Prostate cancer (PC) is the second most common cause of cancer deaths among males worldwide. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a predictive indicator of prostate pathology. Men with elevated PSA levels are at increased risk of developing PC. There is currently no UK national PC screening programme, therefore patients often present to general practices (GPs) at later stages of pathology, worsening patient prognosis and outcomes.

Local problem

The location of the GP surgery had a large patient population at increased risk of PC, namely Afro-Caribbean/Asian males.

Methods

We conducted baseline measurements to identify male patients over the age of 65 and/or male patients who were at high risk of developing PC. These included previous referred patients or patients with a PSA over 10.0. We then implemented three plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles and measured their effect after 2 weeks of starting the respective intervention.

Interventions

PDSA1: Generating a list of target patients who have not had repeat/follow-up/referral and directly contacting by telephone to invite them for a blood test.

PDSA2: Creating patient-specific electronic pop-up reminders on the electronic-patient-record system for PSA follow-up/referral/repeat test.

Planned PDSA3: Patient education of prostate health and general self-checking, as well as benefits/risks of undergoing PSA screening in the form of patient focus groups and informative leaflets.

Results

We identified 220 male patients over 65 registered at a large South London GP surgery. 77.7% of eligible patients had a PSA measurement since 1 April 2019. Our results showed an overall increase in screening of 13.5% from baseline.

Conclusions

Our project identified patients that may potentially have undiagnosed prostate pathology. However, a key factor for not reaching our goal was blood test refusal. This was further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, impacting the capacity to disseminate appropriate information to the local population on the importance of PSA screening.

Laser Ablation ICP-MS Analysis of Chemically Different Regions of Rat Prostate Gland with Implanted Cancer Cells

The comparison of tissues analyzed by LA-ICP-MS is challenging in many aspects, both medical and mathematical. The concept of distinguishing regions of interest (ROIs) was proposed in the literature, allowing for data reduction and targeted comparative analysis. ROIs can be drawn before any analysis, by indicating the anatomical parts of tissue, or after the first step of analysis, by using elemental distribution maps and characteristic regions of enrichment in selected elements. A simple method for identifying different regions, without the manual extraction of image fragments, is highly needed in biological experiments, where large groups of individuals (with samples taken from each of them) is very common. In the present study, two ROIs were distinguished: (1) tissue-rich in fat (and tissue-poor in water); and (2) tissue-rich in water (and tissue-poor in fat). ROIs were extracted mathematically, using an algorithm based on the relationship between 13C and 23Na signal intensities. A cut-off point was indicated in the point of the simultaneous decrease in 13C and increase in 23Na signal intensity. Separate analyses of chemically different ROIs allow for targeted comparison, which is a great advantage of laser ablation over liquid introductions to ICP-MS. In the present experiment, tissues were provided from animals with implanted prostate cancer cells as well as supplemented with mineral compounds particularly important both for prostate gland functions (Zn and Se) and neoplastic processes (Ca, Fe, and Cu). One of the goals was to try to determine whether dietary supplementation qualitatively and quantitatively affects the mineral composition of the prostate gland.

Systemic Effects Reflected in Specific Biomarker Patterns Are Instrumental for the Paradigm Change in Prostate Cancer Management: A Strategic Paper

Prostate cancer (PCa) is reported as the most common malignancy and second leading cause of death in America. In Europe, PCa is considered the leading type of tumour in 28 European countries. The costs of treating PCa are currently increasing more rapidly than those of any other cancer. Corresponding economic burden is enormous, due to an overtreatment of slowly developing disease on one hand and underestimation/therapy resistance of particularly aggressive PCa subtypes on the other hand. The incidence of metastatic PCa is rapidly increasing that is particularly characteristic for young adults. PCa is a systemic multi-factorial disease resulting from an imbalanced interplay between risks and protective factors. Sub-optimal behavioural patterns, abnormal stress reactions, imbalanced antioxidant defence, systemic ischemia and inflammation, mitochondriopathies, aberrant metabolic pathways, gene methylation and damage to DNA, amongst others, are synergistically involved in pathomechanisms of PCa development and progression. To this end, PCa-relevant systemic effects are reflected in liquid biopsies such as blood patterns which are instrumental for predictive diagnostics, targeted prevention and personalisation of medical services (PPPM/3P medicine) as a new paradigm in the overall PCa management. This strategic review article highlights systemic effects in prostate cancer development and progression, demonstrates evident challenges in PCa management and provides expert recommendations in the framework of 3P medicine.

Molecular mechanism of inhibitory effects of melatonin on prostate cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion

The increasing incidence of prostate cancer (PCa) indicates an urgent need for the development of new effective drug therapy. There are limited options to treat the PCa, this study tried to determine a new therapy option for this acute cancer. Androgen-independent PCa cell lines PC3 and DU145 were treated with different melatonin concentrations (0.1~3.5 mM) for 1~3 days and assessed cell migration, cell invasion, cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase as well as apoptosis. We utilized RNA-seq technology to analyze the transcriptional misregulation pathways in DU145 prostate cancer cell line with melatonin (0.5 mM) treatment. Data revealed 20031 genes were up and down-regulated, there were 271 genes that differentially expressed: 97 up-regulated (P<0.05) and 174 down-regulated (P<0.05) genes. Furthermore, RNA-seq results manifested that the melatonin treatment led to a significant increase in the expression levels of HPGD, IL2Rβ, NGFR, however, IGFBP3 and IL6 (P <0.05) had decreased expression levels. The immunoblot assay revealed the expression of IL2Rβ and NGFR genes was up-regulated, qPCR confirmed the gene expression of HPGD and IL2RB were also up-regulated in Du145 cells. Consequently, we probed mechanisms that generate kinetic patterns of NF-κB-dependent gene expression in PCa cells responding to a NF-κB-activation, the significant results were indicated by the inhibition of the NF-kB pathway via IL2Rβ actions. Based on our investigation, it could be concluded that melatonin is a chemotherapeutic molecule against PCa and provides a new idea for clinical therapy of PCa.

Overall survival and prognostic factors prostate cancer in Kurdistan Province-Iran: a population-based study (2011-2018)

Background

The population-based survival rate is affected by the quality and effectiveness of health care systems. Overall, the survival of prostate cancer (PC) patients has improved over the past two decades worldwide. This study aimed to determine the overall survival rate and correlate it with the prognostic factors in patients with PC diagnosed in Kurdistan province.

Methods

In a retrospective cohort study, 410 PC patients registered in Kurdistan province population-based cancer registry from March 2011 to 2018 were recruited. Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank test were used to analyze the overall survival rates of PC patients. A Multivariate Cox regression model was used to determine adjusted hazard ratios for different variables.

Results

Of 410 patients with PC, 263 (64.1%) died within seven years due to the disease. The 1, 3, and 5 years survival rates were 93, 64.1, and 40.7%, respectively. According to the results of multiple Cox regression, the following factors were significantly related to PC survival: age at diagnosis (≥81-years old) (HR=2.23, 95% CI: 1.23-4.42) and 71-80 years old was (HR=1.26, 95% CI: 1.12-2.31), occupation (employee) (HR=0.42, 95% CI: 0.20–0.87), educational level: academic (HR=0.78, 95% CI: 0.64–0.91), AJCC stage of disease (HR=2.18, 95% CI: 1.9–3.68), Gleason score ≥ 9 (HR=7.12, 95% CI: 5.35–10.28), and Gleason score= 8 (HR=4.16, 95% CI: 2.50–6.93). There was less mortality rate among the patients who had received active care, radical prostatectomy, radiotherapy, combined treatment, and orchiectomy had a lower mortality rate than those who received no treatment (P<0.05).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that factors such as age at diagnosis, level of education, occupation, AJCC stage of disease, Gleason score, and type of treatments were influential factors in the survival of PC patients in Kurdistan province and needed more attention.

A geroscience motivated approach to treat Alzheimer's disease: Senolytics move to clinical trials

The pathogenic processes driving Alzheimer's disease (AD) are complex. An incomplete understanding of underlying disease mechanisms has presented insurmountable obstacles for developing effective disease-modifying therapies. Advanced chronological age is the greatest risk factor for developing AD. Intervening on biological aging may alter disease progression and represents a novel, complementary approach to current strategies. Toward this end, cellular senescence has emerged as a promising target. This complex stress response harbors damaged cells in a cell cycle arrested, apoptosis-resistant cell state. Senescent cells accumulate with age where they notoriously secrete molecules that contribute to chronic tissue dysfunction and disease. Thus, benefits of cell survival in a senescent fate are countered by their toxic secretome. The removal of senescent cells improves brain structure and function in rodent models at risk of developing AD, and in those with advanced Aβ and tau pathology. The present review describes the path to translating this promising treatment strategy to AD clinical trials. We review evidence for senescent cell accumulation in the human brain, considerations and strategies for senescence-targeting trials specific to AD, approaches to detect senescent brain cells in biofluids, and summarize the goals of the first senolytic trials for the treatment of AD (NCT04063124 and NCT04685590). This article is part of the Special Issue - Senolytics - Edited by Joao Passos and Diana Jurk.

Mechanistic Insights into the Selective Dual BET and PLK1 Inhibitory Activity of a Novel Benzamide Compound in Castration-Resistant Prostrate Cancer

Though multifactorial, BET and PLK1 proteins have been found to be key players in the oncogenic process leading to castration-resistant prostate cancer through regulation of AR and MYC-mediated transcription. Hence, dual inhibition of these proteins appears to be an auspicious approach for CRPC therapy. WNY0824 has been reported to exhibit nanomolar range inhibition as well as significant anti-proliferative activity on AR-positive CRPC cells in vitro. However, structural, and mechanistic events associated with its dual inhibitory and anti-proliferative mechanisms remain unclear. Utilizing integrative computer-assisted atomistic techniques, analyses revealed that the dual-inhibitory activity of WNY0824 against BRD4 and PLK1 proteins is mediated by conserved residues present in the binding cavities of both proteins which are shown to elicit various strong intermolecular interactions and thus favour binding affinity. Also, binding orientation of the ligand at the protein binding cavities allowed for important hydrophobic interactions which resulted in high binding free energy of -42.50 kcal/mol and -51.64 kcal/mol towards BRD4 and PLK1, respectively. While van der Waals interactions are very important to ligand binding in BRD4-WNY complex, electrostatic interactions are pertinent to PLK1-WNY complex. Intriguingly, WNY0824 triggered conformational alterations in both proteins through increased structural instability, decreased structural compactness and mitigation in exposure of residues to solvent surface area. Consequently, critical interactions peculiar to the oncogenic activities of BRD4 and PLK1 were inhibited, a phenomenon that results in an antagonism of CRPC progression. The mechanistic insights presented in this report would further assist in the structure-based design of improved inhibitors useful in CRPC therapy.

Genetic Contributions to Prostate Cancer Disparities in Men of West African Descent

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most frequently diagnosed malignancy and the second leading cause of death in men worldwide, after adjusting for age. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, continents such as North America and Europe report higher incidence of PCa; however, mortality rates are highest among men of African ancestry in the western, southern, and central regions of Africa and the Caribbean. The American Cancer Society reports, African Americans (AAs), in the United States, have a 1.7 increased incidence and 2.4 times higher mortality rate, compared to European American's (EAs). Hence, early population history in west Africa and the subsequent African Diaspora may play an important role in understanding the global disproportionate burden of PCa shared among Africans and other men of African descent. Nonetheless, disparities involved in diagnosis, treatment, and survival of PCa patients has also been correlated to socioeconomic status, education and access to healthcare. Although recent studies suggest equal PCa treatments yield equal outcomes among patients, data illuminates an unsettling reality of disparities in treatment and care in both, developed and developing countries, especially for men of African descent. Yet, even after adjusting for the effects of the aforementioned factors; racial disparities in mortality rates remain significant. This suggests that molecular and genomic factors may account for much of PCa disparities.

Pilot Study on the Locoregional Demographics of Prostate Cancer in River State, Nigeria

Background

The aetiology of prostate cancer is a subject of intense research and has been attributed to several risk factors. Geographical variations have also been observed with high incidence in western countries and rising rates in developing countries. This study aims to evaluate the locoregional distribution of histologically confirmed prostate cancer patients and discuss the risk factors for the observed variations according to their Local Government Areas (LGA) in Rivers State.

Methodology

This is a descriptive retrospective study on patients with histologically confirmed prostate cancer from three hospitals that take urology referrals over 10years. The patient's hospital records were obtained, and records of their ages, permanent place of residence, prostate biopsy histopathology reports, and Gleason's scores were extracted. These data were collated and analyzed using SPSS version 20.

Results

There were 278 patients managed over a 10year period with a mean age of 68.39years+_10.06. Prostate cancer was the commonest in the 60-69year age group (37.1%), followed by the 70-79year range. The high-risk, poorly differentiated cancer (Gleason 8-10; ISUP 4,5) was the commonest, followed by the intermediate-risk cancers (Gleason 7; ISUP 2,3). Port Harcourt (41.0%) and ObiaAkpo (36.0%) Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Port Harcourt City had the highest frequencies of prostate cancer. There was no relationship between age and Gleason's score in the men.

Conclusion

Prostate cancer appears more common in the LGAs in Port Harcourt City compared to the semi-urban and rural LGAs in Rivers State. High-grade cancers are more frequent both in rural and urban LGA. High Gleason score cancers appear more frequently in the metropolitan Port Harcourt City than rural LGAs.

Nanoplasmonic Sensor Approaches for Sensitive Detection of Disease-Associated Exosomes

Exosomes are abundantly secreted by most cells that carry membrane and cytosolic factors that can reflect the physiologic state of their source cells and thus have strong potential to serve as biomarkers for early diagnosis, disease staging, and treatment monitoring. However, traditional diagnostic or prognostic applications that might use exosomes are hindered by the lack of rapid and sensitive assays that can exploit their biological information. An array of assay approaches have been developed to address this deficit, including those that integrate immunoassays with nanoplasmonic sensors to measure changes in optical refractive indexes in response to the binding of low concentrations of their targeted molecules. These sensors take advantage of enhanced and tunable interactions between the electron clouds of nanoplasmonic particles and structures and incident electromagnetic radiation to enable isolation-free and ultrasensitive quantification of disease-associated exosome biomarkers present in complex biological samples. These unique advantages make nanoplasmonic sensing one of the most competitive approaches available for clinical applications and point-of-care tests that evaluate exosome-based biomarkers. This review will briefly summarize the origin and clinical utility of exosomes and the limitations of current isolation and analysis approaches before reviewing the specific advantages and limitations of nanoplasmonic sensing devices and indicating what additional developments are necessary to allow the translation of these approaches into clinical applications.

EDCs and male urogenital cancers

Male sex determination and sexual differentiation occur between 6-12 weeks of gestation. During the "male programming window" the fetal testes start to produce testosterone that initiates the development of the male reproductive tract. Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) able to mimic or disrupt steroid hormone actions may disrupt testicular development and adversely impact reproductive health at birth, during puberty and adulthood. The testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS) occurs as a result inhibition of androgen action on fetal development preceding Sertoli and Leydig cell dysfunction and may result from direct or epigenetic effects. Hypospadias, cryptorchidism and poor semen quality are elements of TDS, which may be considered a risk factor for testicular germ cell cancer (TGCC). Exposure to estrogen or estrogenic EDCs results in developmental estrogenization/estrogen imprinting in the rodent for prostate cancer (PCa). This can disrupt prostate histology by disorganization of the epithelium, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) lesions, in particular high-grade PIN (HGPIN) lesions which are precursors of prostatic adenocarcinoma. These defects persist throughout the lifespan of the animal and later in life estrogen exposure predispose development of cancer. Exposure of pregnant dams to vinclozolin, a competitive anti-androgen, and results in prominent, focal regions of inflammation in all exposed animals. The inflammation closely resembles human nonbacterial prostatitis that occurs in young men and evidence indicates that inflammation plays a central role in the development of PCa. In conclusion, in utero exposure to endocrine disrupters may predispose to the development of TDS, testicular cancer (TCa) and PCa and are illustrations of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD).

Tissue microarray profiling and integrative proteomics indicate the modulatory potential of Maytenus royleanus in inhibition of overexpressed TPD52 in prostate cancers

Maytenus roylanus (MEM) is a plant with anti-proliferative effects against prostate cancer. We aimed to explore the mechanism of action of MEM in prostate cancer (PCa) by employing an in vitro global proteome approach to get useful information of various signaling pathways and effected genes to define the mechanism of MEM action in prostate cancer. We conducted a global proteome analysis of CWR22Rv1after treatment with methanolic extract of MEM. The result of the proteomic profiling of in vitro PCa cells demonstrated the reduction in tumor protein D52 (TPD52) expression after treatment with methanolic extract of MEM. Down-regulation of TPD52 expression at mRNA level was observed by MEM treatment in CWR22Rν1 and C4-2 cells in a dose-dependent fashion probably by cleavage of Caspase 3 and PARP, or by modulation of cyclin-dependent kinases in CWR22Rν1 and C4-2 cells. The progressive character of the TRAMP model demonstrates a chance to evaluate the potential of chemo-preventive agents for both initial and late stages of prostate cancer development, and induction in TPD52 protein expression with development as well as the progression of prostate cancer was observed in the TRAMP model. Analyses of the tissue microarray collection of 25 specimens confirmed the clinical significance of our findings identifying TPD52 as a potential marker for PCa progression. We determined that knockdown of TPD52 (CWR22Rν1 cells), a considerable downregulation was seen at the protein level. Downregulation of TPD52 inhibited the migration and invasive behavior of prostate cancer cells as observed. Moreover, we observed that the siRNA-TPD52 transfection of CWR22Rν1 cells resulted in tumor growth inhibition with a marked reduction in the secretion of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the serum. Intraperitoneal injection of MEM considerably slowed tumor growth in athymic mice, inhibited TPD52 expression, and caused a marked reduction in PSA levels of serum as demonstrated by immunoblot screening and immune-histochemical staining. This report illustrates a molecular overview of pathological processes in PCa, indicating possible new disease biomarkers and therapeutic targets.