Prostate-specific membrane antigen modulates the progression of prostate cancer by regulating the synthesis of arginine and proline and the expression of androgen receptors and Fos proto-oncogenes

Metabolic characteristics of prostate cancer cells with high metastatic potential revealed by (S)-ethyl 1-(3-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-hydroxypropyl)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxylate inhibition

A small molecule, (S)-ethyl 1-(3-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-hydroxypropyl)-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxylate (SEC), has been reported to be capable of suppressing metastasis of prostate cancer (PCa) cells. In this study, SEC was used to study the metabolic responses of PCa cell lines (LNCaP, PC3, and DU145) with different metastatic potential and the alterations of mTOR, p-mTOR, AMPK, and p-AMPK levels, when the PCa cells were inhibited. The ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS)-based analysis showed that SEC induced the decreases of intracellular metabolites including glutamic acid, glutamine, and histidine (LNCaP); creatinine, citric acid/isocitric acid, and aspartic acid (PC3); and spermidine, S-hydroxymethylglutathione, LPE (20:3), and palmitic amide (DU145), and the increases of intracellular LPC (18:0) (LNCaP); tyrosine, pyroglutamic acid/pyrroline hydroxycarboxylic acid (PC3); and tyrosine, phenylalanine, phenylacetylglycine, spermine, histidine, and choline (DU145). SEC also caused the decrease of extracellular N1-acetylspermidine (LNCaP), erythronic acid/threonic acid (PC3 and DU145), and nicotinic acid/picolinic acid (DU145), and the increase of extracellular 5'-methylthioadenosine (DU145). High metastatic PC3 and DU145 cells exhibited changes in aromatic amino acid metabolism including tyrosine metabolism, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan metabolism, and phenylalanine metabolism (PC3 and DU145), TCA cycle (PC3), arginine and proline metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism (DU145), different from the low metastatic LNCaP cells, which had changes in alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, and arginine biosynthesis. In addition, the levels of p-mTOR and p-AMPK were shown to be obviously downregulated and upregulated, respectively, in high metastatic PC3 and DU145 cells upon SEC inhibition, while this behavior was not detected in LNCaP cells.

Lathyrol affects the expression of AR and PSA and inhibits the malignant behavior of RCC cells

Objective

To investigate how lathyrol affects aggressive behaviors and related proteins of the androgen receptor (AR) 786-O cells.

Methods

786-O cells were cultured in vitro and divided into these groups at random: the dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) control group (A group), negative control group (B group), and experimental group (C group). Cells in A group were grown in DMSO working medium (contained RPMI 1640 medium and 1% DMSO), B group cells were cultured in nilutamide working medium (contained DMSO working medium and 325 μg/mL nilutamide), while those in C group were cultured in lathyrol working medium (contained DMSO working medium and 300 μg/mL lathyrol). Cell proliferation was measured via CCK-8 assays, and cell apoptosis was examined through terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling staining. Scratch tests and Transwell invasion tests were used to evaluate cell movement and penetration. The expression information about p-AR, AR, p-Akt, ki67, caspase3, cleaved-caspase3, Bcl-2, Bax, caspase9, cleaved-caspase9, and GAPDH proteins was investigated through western blotting. Immunocytochemistry was used to identify the 786-O cells' secretion level of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), MMP9, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) proteins.

Results

The negative control and experimental groups' cells exhibited reduced proliferation, migration, and invasion and increased apoptosis after 24 h treatment. Furthermore, these two group cells exhibited a notable reduction in the status of Ki67, Bcl-2, MMP2, MMP9, and p-Akt (P < 0.05) and significantly increased the expressions of AR, p-AR, Bax, cleaved-caspase3, and cleaved-caspase9 (P < 0.05). There was no statistical distance in PSA, caspase3, and caspase9 expressions among the three groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

In vitro, lathyrol and nilutamide exert notable anticancer effects by effectively suppressing the proliferation, migration, and invasion of 786-O cells while also inducing apoptosis.

The prognostic and neuroendocrine implications of SLC25A29-mediated biomass signature in prostate cancer

Dysregulated solutes are linked to cancer progression, with associated carriers being potential targets for prognosis and treatment. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is essential for prostate cancer (PCa) progression, but secondary resistance often leads to androgen-independent tumor growth, necessitating new prognostic biomarkers. Transcriptome-based datasets identify SLC25A29, an arginine carrier, as upregulated in PCa, correlating with metastatic features and serving as a high-risk prognostic factor, particularly in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Molecular simulations indicate that SLC25A29-mediated pathways contribute to mitochondrial metabolism and redox homeostasis, implicating POLD1 regulation and suggesting a link to ferroptosis. Further analysis reveals that SLC25A29 may transactivate POLD1 via E2F1, as shown by RNA-seq profiling of E2F1 knockdown in CRPC-related cells, which demonstrated reduced POLD1 expression. Clinical and cellular studies confirm that SLC25A29, E2F1, and POLD1 levels positively correlate with pathological features, with their downstream effectors serving as prognosis signatures. The SLC25A29/E2F1/POLD1 axis is associated with neuroendocrine PCa (NEPC) development, indicating its role in response to androgen receptor inhibition. Downregulation of E2F1 not only decreases POLD1 levels but also reduces NEPC-related markers. These findings support the SLC25A29/E2F1/POLD1 axis as a prognostic tool for CRPC and NEPC, and targeting E2F1 may offer a therapeutic strategy to disrupt SLC25A29-mediated PCa progression.

Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen Biology and Pathophysiology in Prostate Carcinoma, an Update: Potential Implications for Targeted Imaging and Therapy

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a transmembrane glycoprotein, was shown to be expressed 100-1000 fold higher in prostate adenocarcinoma as compared to normal prostate epithelium. Given the enzymatic function of PSMA with the presence of an internalization triggering motif, various Glu-urea-Lys-based inhibitors have been developed and, amongst others, radiolabeled with positron emitters for targeted positron emission tomography imaging such as 68Ga-PSMA-HBED-CC Glu-urea-Lys(Ahx) as well as with beta and alpha-emitting radioisotopes for targeted therapy, e.g., 177Lu-PSMA-617. In this paper, we review and discuss the potential implications for targeted imaging and therapy of altered PSMA-glycosylation, of PSMA-driven activation of the P13K/Akt/mTOR, of the evolution over time and the relationship with androgen signaling and changes in DNA methylation of PSMA, and of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in prostate carcinoma.

From Oncogenesis to Theranostics: The Transformative Role of PSMA in Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer, a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among men, is characterized by complex genetic and epigenetic alterations, dysregulation of oncogenic pathways, and a dynamic tumor microenvironment. Advances in molecular diagnostics and targeted therapies have significantly transformed the management of this disease. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) has emerged as a critical biomarker, enhancing the precision of prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment. Theranostics, which integrates PSMA-targeted imaging with radioligand therapies, has shown remarkable efficacy in detecting and treating advanced prostate cancer. By leveraging the dual capabilities of PSMA-based diagnostics and therapeutic agents, theranostics offers a personalized approach that improves patient outcomes. This comprehensive review explores the latest developments in PSMA-targeted theranostics and their impact on the future of prostate cancer management, highlighting key clinical trials and emerging therapeutic strategies.

Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen: Alpha-labeled Radiopharmaceuticals

Novel prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) ligands labeled with α-emitting radionuclides are sparking a growing interest in prostate cancer treatment. These targeted alpha therapies (TATs) have attractive physical properties that deem them effective in progressive metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Among the PSMA TAT radiopharmaceuticals, [225Ac]Ac-PSMA has been used extensively on a compassionate basis and is currently undergoing phase I trials. Notably, TAT has the potential to improve quality of life and has favorable antitumor activity and outcomes in multiple scenarios other than in mCRPC. In addition, resistance mechanisms to TAT may be amenable to combination therapies.

PSMA-617 inhibits proliferation and potentiates the 177Lu-PSMA-617-induced death of human prostate cancer cells

The human prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is substantially up-regulated in metastatic prostate cancer (PCa) cells. PSMA can be targeted by 177Lu conjugated to PSMA-617, a high-affinity ligand for the PSMA. The binding of the radioligand, 177Lu-PSMA-617, results in its internalisation and delivery of β-radiation into the cancer cells. However, PSMA-617, a component of the final product in the synthesis of the radioligand, may also play a role in the pathophysiology of PCa cells. The present study aimed to clarify the effects of PSMA-617 (10, 50 and 100 nM) on the expression of PSMA in PSMA-positive LNCaP cells, their proliferation, 177Lu-PSMA-617-induced cell death by WST-1 and lactate dehydrogenase assays, immunohistochemistry, western blotting, immunofluorescence staining and uptake of 177Lu-PSMA-617. PSMA-617 at 100 nM concentration induced cell-growth arrest, down-regulated cyclin D1 and cyclin E1 (by 43 and 36%, respectively) and up-regulated the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21Waf1/Cip1 (by 48%). Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated reduced content of DNA, pointing to a lower rate of cell division. PSMA-617 (up to 100 nM) did not alter the uptake of 177Lu-PSMA-617 into the LNCaP cells. Interestingly, simultaneous treatment with 177Lu-PSMA-617 and PSMA-617 for 24 and 48 h substantially potentiated the cell-death promoting effects of the radioligand. In conclusion, the combination of impeding tumour cell proliferation by PSMA-617 and its potentiation of the radiation-induced cell death brought about by 177Lu-PSMA-617 in PCa cells may considerably improve the outcome of the radiation therapy with 177Lu-PSMA-617, especially in patients with decreased radiosensitivity of PCa cells to the radioligand.

Oridonin suppresses gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell proliferation by targeting the TNF-alpha/androgen receptor/TGF-beta signalling pathway axis

Statistics provided by GLOBOCAN list gastric cancer as the sixth most common, with a mortality ranking of third highest for the year 2020. In China, a herb called Rabdosia rubescens (Hemsl.) H.Hara, has been used by local residents for the treatment of digestive tract cancer for hundreds of years. Oridonin, the main ingredient of the herb, has a curative effect for gastric cancer, but the mechanism has not been previously clarified. This study mainly aimed to investigate the role of TNF-alpha/Androgen receptor/TGF-beta signalling pathway axis in mediating the proliferation inhibition of oridonin on gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells. MTT assay, cell morphology observation assay and fluorescence assay were adopted to study the efficacy of oridonin on cell proliferation. The network pharmacology was used to predict the pathway axis regulated by oridonin. Western blot assay was adopted to verify the TNF-α/Androgen receptor/TGF-β signalling pathway axis regulation on gastric cancer by oridonin. The results showed Oridonin could inhibit the proliferation of gastric cancer cells, change cell morphology and cause cell nuclear fragmentation. A total of 11signaling pathways were annotated by the network pharmacology, among them, Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) signalling pathway, androgen receptor (AR) signalling pathway and transforming growth factor (TGF-β) signalling pathway account for the largest proportion. Oridonin can regulate the protein expression of the three signalling pathways, which is consistent with the results predicted by network pharmacology. These findings indicated that oridonin can inhibit the proliferation of gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells by regulating the TNF-α /AR /TGF-β signalling pathway axis.

Potential Diagnostic Biomarker Detection for Prostate Cancer Using Untargeted and Targeted Metabolomic Profiling

Prostate cancer (PCa) remains one of the leading causes of cancer mortality in men worldwide, currently lacking specific, early detection and staging biomarkers. In this regard, modern research focuses efforts on the discovery of novel molecules that could represent potential future non-invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis of PCa, as well as therapeutic targets. Mounting evidence shows that cancer cells express an altered metabolism in their early stages, making metabolomics a promising tool for the discovery of altered pathways and potential biomarker molecules. In this study, we first performed untargeted metabolomic profiling on 48 PCa plasma samples and 23 healthy controls using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-[ESI+]-MS) for the discovery of metabolites with altered profiles. Secondly, we selected five molecules (L-proline, L-tryptophan, acetylcarnitine, lysophosphatidylcholine C18:2 and spermine) for the downstream targeted metabolomics and found out that all the molecules, regardless of the PCa stage, were decreased in the PCa plasma samples when compared to the controls, making them potential biomarkers for PCa detection. Moreover, spermine, acetylcarnitine and L-tryptophan had very high diagnostic accuracy, with AUC values of 0.992, 0.923 and 0.981, respectively. Consistent with other literature findings, these altered metabolites could represent future specific and non-invasive candidate biomarkers for PCa detection, which opens novel horizons in the field of metabolomics.

Metabolism-Related Bioinformatics Analysis Reveals That HPRT1 Facilitates the Progression of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma In Vitro

Objectives

Many studies have shown that dysregulation of metabolism contributes to oncogenesis. However, the exact roles of metabolism-related genes (MRGs) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remain unclear. Thus, we aimed to identify a prognostic signature related to MRGs in OSCC.

Methods

The gene sequencing data of OSCC samples and the MRG set were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Molecular Signatures Database (MSigDB). The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to identify differentially expressed MRGs. Then, a prognostic signature was established by multivariate Cox regression analysis. Finally, prognosis-related MRGs were selected and further validated in OSCC tissues and cell lines.

Results

A prognostic signature that included 8 MRGs was constructed. Multiple survival analysis revealed that only HPRT1 might be an independent biomarker and indicator of poor overall survival in OSCC patients. The expression of HPRT1 was then found to be upregulated in OSCC tissues and cell lines, and suppression of HPRT1 gene expression by siRNA inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OSCC cells in vitro.

Conclusions

MRGs play an important role in the development of OSCC. Furthermore, HPRT1 might be an independent biomarker of OSCC and enhance OSCC proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro; these results emphasize the potential utility of HPRT1 in OSCC therapy.

Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 2 inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition in clear cell renal cell carcinoma metastasis by downregulating the NF-κB pathway

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma, the most common type of renal cancer, is associated with poor survival. Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 2 regulates the molecular mechanisms of cancer cells. However, its mechanism in clear cell renal cell carcinoma remains unclear. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunohistochemistry were performed to assess ubiquitin-specific peptidase 2 expression in human clear cell renal cell carcinoma samples. Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 2 was weakly expressed in clear cell renal cell carcinoma samples and associated with poor patient outcomes. Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 2 inhibition promoted clear cell renal cell carcinoma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 2 overexpression inhibited clear cell renal cell carcinoma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and in vivo. RNA-sequencing showed significant changes in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related pathways following ubiquitin-specific peptidase 2 knockdown. Western blotting was performed to detect the protein expression levels. Expression of p-nuclear factor-κB p65, N-cadherin, Vimentin, and Snail, which were markedly increased, as well as E-cadherin, which was decreased following ubiquitin-specific peptidase 2 knockdown. Rescue experiments using the nuclear factor-κB inhibitor BAY 11–7082 revealed that the migration and invasion abilities and the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition pathway proteins were inhibited in both the short hairpin RNA (shRNA) for ubiquitin-specific peptidase 2 and shRNA for negative control groups. Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 2 is a potential biomarker to distinguish clear cell renal cell carcinoma patients from healthy individuals. Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 2-mediated inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in clear cell renal cell carcinoma cells is dependent on the nuclear factor-κB pathway.