Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in PSCA and the risk of breast cancer in a Chinese population

Significance of PSCA as a novel prognostic marker and therapeutic target for cancer

One of the contributing factors in the diagnosis and treatment of most cancers is the identification of their surface antigens. Cancer tissues or cells have their specific antigens. Some antigens that are present in many cancers elicit different functions. One of these antigens is the prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) antigen, which was first identified in the prostate. PSCA is a cell surface protein that has different functions in different tissues. It can play an inhibitory role in cell proliferation as well as a tumor-inducing role. PSCA has several genetic variants involved in cancer susceptibility in some tissues, so identifying the characteristics of this antigen and its relationship with clinical features can provide more information on diagnosis and treatment of patients with cancers. Most studies on the PSCA have focused on prostate cancer. While it is also expressed in other cancers, little attention has been paid to its role as a valuable diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic tool in other cancers. PSCA has several genetic variants that seem to play a significant role in cancer susceptibility in some tissues, so identifying the characteristics of this antigen and its relationship and variants with clinical features can be beneficial in concomitant cancer therapy and diagnosis, as theranostic tools. In this study, we will review the alteration of the PSCA expression and its polymorphisms and evaluate its clinical and theranostics significance in various cancers.

The PSCA rs2294008 (C/T) Polymorphism Increases the Risk of Gastric and Bladder Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Background: It has been reported that prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) is overexpressed in certain cancer types and confers poor prognoses. The rs2294008 (C/T) polymorphism of PSCA is considered to be associated with risk for gastric, bladder, and colorectal cancers; however, these studies have produced inconsistent results, so we performed this meta-analysis to verify the association between the PSCA rs2294008 (C/T) polymorphism and cancer risk. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, EMBASE, and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, through October 20, 2022 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We used odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the strength of the association between the PSCA rs2294008 (C/T) polymorphism and cancer risk. In addition, we explored PSCA mRNA expression in cancers through online databases. Results: In total, 45 articles met our inclusion criteria and were analyzed, including 37,586 cancer cases and 51,197 non-cancer controls. Except in the recessive model, the pooled effect indicated the PSCA rs2294008 T allele was associated with an increased overall cancer risk (T vs. C: OR = 1.120, 95% CI = 1.056-1.188, p < 0.01; TT vs. CC: OR = 1.206, 95% CI = 1.066-1.364, p = 0.03; CT vs. CC: OR = 1.249, 95% CI = 1.151-1.356, p < 0.01; [CT+TT] vs. CC: OR = 1.248, 95% CI = 1.147-1.359, p < 0.01; TT vs. [CT+CC]: OR = 1.051, 95% CI = 0.954-1.156, p = 0.314). In the subgroup analysis, there were significant associations between the rs2294008 T allele and increased risk of bladder and gastric cancer. Two different online tools were used to explore the PSCA mRNA levels in cancer and the corresponding normal adjacent tissues. We found that expression of PSCA was significantly lower in gastric cancer patients. Conclusions: The PSCA rs2294008 T polymorphism is related to increased cancer susceptibility, especially for gastric and bladder cancers. This polymorphism results in a decreased PSCA expression level in gastric cancer.

Contribution of prostate stem cell antigen variation rs2294008 to the risk of bladder cancer

OBJECTIVE

Number of studies have been performed to evaluate the relationship between prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) variation rs2294008 and bladder cancer risk, but the sample size was small and the results were conflicting. This meta-analysis was conducted to comprehensively evaluate the overall association.

METHODS

Pubmed, Web of science, Embase, China biology medical literature database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wan Fang and Weipu databases were searched before June 30, 2018. The strength of associations was assessed using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). All of the statistical analyses were conducted using Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 14.0.

RESULTS

Ten studies involved 14,021 cases and 26,871 controls. Overall, significant association was observed between the PSCA gene variant rs2294008 polymorphism and bladder cancer (T vs C: OR = 1.16, 95%CI = 1.12-1.20; TT vs CC: OR = 1.32, 95%CI = 1.24-1.41; TT vs CT+CC: OR = 1.15, 95%CI = 1.09-1.22; TT+CT vs CC: OR = 1.27, 95%CI = 1.21-1.34). In subgroup analysis by ethnic group, a statistically significant association was observed in Asians (T vs C: OR = 1.23, 95%CI = 1.15-1.31) and Caucasians (T vs C: OR = 1.14, 95%CI = 1.10-1.18). The sensitivity analysis confirmed the reliability and stability of the meta-analysis.

CONCLUSION

Our meta-analysis supports that the PSCA gene variant rs2294008 polymorphism might contribute to individual susceptibility to bladder cancer.

Integrated landscape of copy number variation and RNA expression associated with nodal metastasis in invasive ductal breast carcinoma

Background

Lymph node metastasis (NM) in breast cancer is a clinical predictor of patient outcomes, but how its genetic underpinnings contribute to aggressive phenotypes is unclear. Our objective was to create the first landscape analysis of CNV-associated NM in ductal breast cancer. To assess the role of copy number variations (CNVs) in NM, we compared CNVs and/or associated mRNA expression in primary tumors of patients with NM to those without metastasis.

Results

We found CNV loss in chromosomes 1, 3, 9, 18, and 19 and gains in chromosomes 5, 8, 12, 14, 16-17, and 20 that were associated with NM and replicated in both databases. In primary tumors, per-gene CNVs associated with NM were ten times more frequent than mRNA expression; however, there were few CNV-driven changes in mRNA expression that differed by nodal status. Overlapping regions of CNV changes and mRNA expression were evident for the CTAGE5 gene. In 8q12, 11q13-14, 20q1, and 17q14-24 regions, there were gene-specific gains in CNV-driven mRNA expression associated with NM.

Methods

Data on CNV and mRNA expression from the TCGA and the METABRIC consortium of breast ductal carcinoma were utilized to identify CNV-based features associated with NM. Within each dataset, associations were compared across omic platforms to identify CNV-driven variations in gene expression. Only replications across both datasets were considered as determinants of NM.

Conclusions

Gains in CTAGE5, NDUFC2, EIF4EBP1, and PSCA genes and their expression may aid in early diagnosis of metastatic breast carcinoma and have potential as therapeutic targets.

Polymorphisms in HIFs and breast cancer sutarsceptibility in Chinese women: a case-control study

Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) play a crucial role in cancer progression. Several epidemiological studies have demonstrated that HIFs polymorphisms can influence the susceptibility of multiple cancers. However, the relationship of HIFs polymorphisms (rs11549467 and rs17039192) and breast cancer (BC) risk was still unknown. Thus, we performed a case-control study based on 560 BC patients and 583 healthy controls to explore the association between them. Our results indicated a boardline connection between HIF-1 rs11549467 and BC risk (AG compared with GG: OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.05-2.49, P=0.03; AG + AA compared with GG: OR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.08-2.51, P=0.02; AG compared with GG + AA: OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.04-2.48, P=0.03; OR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.09-2.45, P=0.02), while HIF-2 rs17039192 had no influence on breast cancer. Considered the comparison of sample size and potential heterogeneity of previous case-control studies, we concluded that HIF-1 rs11549467 has a marginal effect on BC risk. Further well-designed studies with larger sample size were required.

CYP17 polymorphisms are associated with decreased risk of breast cancer in Chinese Han women: a case-control study

INTRODUCTION

CYP17 is the second most important enzyme in estradiol synthesis. Epidemiological studies have shown the associations between CYP17 polymorphisms and cancer risk. We conducted a case-control study to evaluate the relationship between CYP17 polymorphisms (rs743572 and rs2486758) and breast cancer (BC) risk.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This case-control study included 560 BC patients and 583 age-matched healthy controls from Northwest China. Two polymorphisms (rs743572 and rs2486758) of CYP17 were genotyped by using Sequenom MassARRAY. ORs and 95% CIs were used to evaluate the relationship.

RESULTS

Compared with the wild genotype of rs743572, we found a significantly reduced risk of BC associated with the variant genotypes (heterozygote model: OR=0.69, 95% CI=0.53-0.89; homozygote model: OR=0.68, 95% CI=0.49-0.95; dominant model: OR=0.69, 95% CI=0.54-0.87; overdominant model: OR=0.78, 95% CI=0.62-0.98; allele model: OR=0.79, 95% CI=0.66-0.93). For rs2486758 polymorphism, we did not find any difference in any of the genetic models. Further stratification analysis by clinical characteristics showed rs743572 was associated with estrogen receptor status (heterozygote model: OR=2.13, 95% CI=1.47-3.08; homozygote model: OR=3.29, 95% CI=1.94-5.58; dominant model: OR=2.39, 95% CI=1.69-3.37) and progesterone receptor status (homozygote model: OR=3.17, 95% CI=1.82-5.55), but there was no association between rs2486758 and clinical characteristics of BC. Haplotype analysis showed that Grs743572Crs2486758 haplotype was a protective factor of BC (OR=0.52, 95% CI=0.40-0.67). Survival analysis did not find that CYP17 rs743572 polymorphism was associated with triple-negative BC, either in terms of overall survival or progression-free survival.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that CYP17 polymorphisms may reduce the susceptibility to BC in Chinese women.

PSCA promotes prostate cancer proliferation and cell-cycle progression by up-regulating c-Myc

BACKGROUND

The Prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein. Increasing evidence has indicated PSCA plays an important role in tumorigenesis. However, its function and the underlying molecular mechanisms in prostate cancer (PCa) are still not fully elucidated. In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of PSCA on cell cycle of PCa cells and its mechanism research.

METHODS

Immunohistochemistry, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting were used to quantify PSCA expression pattern in PCa tissues and cell lines. The association of PSCA expression with the biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free survival and overall survival (OS) of PCa patients were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method. The roles of PSCA in PCa were confirmed based on both in vitro and in vivo systems.

RESULTS

Immunohistochemistry results showed that PSCA was upregulated in PCa tissue. PSCA overexpression were significantly associated with high Gleason score (GS) (P = 0.028), positive BCR (P = 0.002), and poor OS (P = 0.032) and high c-Myc expression (P = 0.019). PSCA promoted PCa cell cycle progression and tumor growth via increased c-Myc expression. Additional, PI3K/AKT signaling pathways was involved in PSCA-mediated c-Myc expression and cell proliferation.

CONCLUSIONS

PSCA is a novel cell cycle regulator with a key role in mediating c-Myc-induced proliferation. PSCA may be a potential diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for patients with PCa.

PSCA rs1045531 Polymorphism and the Risk of Prostate Cancer in a Chinese Population Undergoing Prostate Biopsy

Background and Purpose:

This study explored the association between a single-nucleotide polymorphism of prostate stem cell antigen and prostate cancer in Chinese patients undergoing prostate biopsy.

Materials and Methods:

DNA from 416 patients undergoing prostate biopsy was typed for the prostate stem cell antigen rs1045531 single-nucleotide polymorphism. The frequency of the rs1045531 polymorphism in patients with prostate cancer and in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia was compared. Associations between the polymorphism and the risk of prostate cancer, prostate special antigen, Gleason score, and clinical stage were analyzed.

Results:

Statistically significant differences in the distribution of the rs1045531 genotypes and alleles were found between prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia in patients undergoing prostate biopsy (P = .035 and .046, respectively). We found that the rs1045531 AC genotype was significantly associated with a high risk of prostate cancer in the heterozygote model (AC vs CC; odds ratio = 2.383, 95% confidence interval: 1.198-4.741, χ² = 6.229, P = .013) and the dominant model (AA/AC vs CC; odds ratio = 2.169, 95% confidence interval: 1.112-4.229, χ² = 5.228, P = .022). However, susceptibility of prostate cancer was decreased in the homozygote model (AA vs CC; odds ratio = 0.828, 95% confidence interval: 0.143-4.805, P = .601). When considering clinical factors, the rs1045531 showed an association with prostate special antigen of 10 ng/mL or greater, a Gleason score of 7 or greater, and a size of T2 or greater.

Conclusion:

Men with the rs1045531 AC genotype of prostate stem cell antigen were at higher risk of prostate cancer in Chinese patients undergoing prostate biopsy.

Exploratory investigation of PSCA-protein expression in primary breast cancer patients reveals a link to HER2/neu overexpression

BACKGROUND

Prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) has been suggested as biomarker and therapeutic target for prostate cancer. Recent advances showed that PSCA is up-regulated in other cancer entities, such as bladder or pancreatic cancer. However, the clinical relevance of PSCA-expression in breast cancer patients has not yet been established and is therefore addressed by the current study.

METHODS

PSCA-protein expression was assessed in 405 breast cancer patients, using immunohistochemistry (PSCA antibody MB1) and tissue microarrays.

RESULTS

PSCA-expression was detected in 94/405 patients (23%) and correlated with unfavorable histopathological grade (p=0.011) and increased Ki67 proliferation index (p=0.006). We observed a strong positive correlation between PSCA-protein expression and HER2/neu receptor status (p<0.001). PSCA did not provide prognostic information in the analyzed cohort. Interestingly, the distribution of PSCA-expression among triple negative patients was comparable to the total population.

CONCLUSION

We identified a subgroup of PSCA-positive breast cancer patients, which could be amenable for a PSCA-targeted therapy. Moreover, given that we found a strong positive correlation between PSCA- and HER/neu expression, targeting PSCA may provide an alternative therapeutic option in case of trastuzumab resistance.

Association between PSCA gene polymorphisms and the risk of cancer: an updated meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis

Previous studies have investigated the relationships between PSCA rs2294008 C>T and rs2976392 G>A polymorphisms and cancer susceptibility. However, the available findings remained inconsistent and even controversial. Thus, the aim of this meta-analysis was performed to clarify such associations. The online databases PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science searched for relevant studies, covering all the papers published until September 1st, 2016. Data were pooled by odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to evaluate the strength of such associations. Then, trial sequential analysis was performed to estimate whether the evidence of the results was firm. Overall, a significant increased risk of cancer was associated with PSCA rs2294008 C>T and rs2976392 G>A polymorphisms. For the PSCA rs2294008 polymorphism, when stratified by type of cancer, the results were significant especially in gastric cancer and bladder cancer. Moreover, in the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, significant results were detected in both Asian and Caucasian populations. Similarly, for the PSCA rs2976392 polymorphism, the stratification analyses by type of cancer showed that the results were significant only in gastric cancer. In addition, the stratification analyses by ethnicity detected that this polymorphism increased cancer risk only in Asian populations. Then, trial sequential analyses demonstrated that the results of the meta-analysis were based on sufficient evidence. Therefore, this meta-analysis suggested that the PSCA rs2294008 C>T and rs2976392 G>A polymorphisms might be associated with cancer susceptibility, which might act as a potential predicted biomarker for genetic susceptibility to cancer, especially in gastric cancer and bladd er cancer.

FEN1 gene variants confer reduced risk of breast cancer in chinese women: A case-control study

This study aimed to assess the associations of two common Flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) polymorphisms (rs4246215 and rs174538) with breast cancer risk in northwest Chinese women. We conducted a case-control study with 560 breast cancer patients and 583 age-matched healthy controls from Northwest China. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used to estimate the associations. We found a significantly reduced risk of breast cancer associated with T allele of rs4246215 (allele model: OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.68-0.96; homozygote model: OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.40-0.87; recessive model: OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.42-0.89), especially in postmenopausal women (OR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.35-0.97). Furthermore, the polymorphism showed a decreased association with larger tumor size (heterozygote model: OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.44-0.92; dominant model: OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.44-0.90). For rs174538, we did not find any difference in all genetic models. However, rs174538 was associated with lymph node metastasis (heterozygote model: OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.39-0.81; dominant model: OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.43-0.86) and estrogen receptor status (heterozygote model: OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.05-2.15; dominant model: OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.01-1.98). Haplotype analysis showed that Trs4246215Grs174538 haplotype was a protective factor of breast cancer (OR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.14-0.81). Our results suggest that FEN1 polymorphisms may reduce the risk of breast cancer in Chinese women.

Distinct role of the Fas rs1800682 and FasL rs763110 polymorphisms in determining the risk of breast cancer among Han Chinese females

BACKGROUND

In recent years, studies have demonstrated that polymorphisms in the promoters of Fas and FasL are significantly associated with breast cancer risk. However, the results of these studies were inconsistent. This case-control study was performed to explore the associations between Fas rs1800682 and FasL rs763110 polymorphisms and breast cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A hospital-based case-control study of 560 Han Chinese females with breast cancer (583 controls) was conducted. The MassARRAY system was used to search for a possible association between the disease risk and the two single nucleotide polymorphisms, Fas rs1800682 and FasL rs763110. Statistical analyses were performed using SNPStats software to conduct Pearson's chi-square tests in five different genetic models. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated after adjustment to age and body mass index. PHASE v2.1 software was used to reconstruct all common haplotypes.

RESULTS

A statistically significant association was found between Fas rs1800682 and increased breast cancer risk (AG vs AA: OR =1.37, 95% CI =1.06-1.78; AA+AG vs GG: OR =1.32, 95% CI =1.04-1.66), and also it was found that the FasL rs763110 polymorphism may decrease the risk. Stratified analyses demonstrated that the rs763110 polymorphism was associated with lower breast cancer risk among postmenopausal females (heterozygote model: OR =0.69, 95% CI =0.49-0.97; dominant model: OR =0.70, 95% CI =0.51-0.96). The T allele of rs763110 was also associated with a decreased risk of lymph node metastasis (allele model: OR =0.75, 95% CI =0.57-0.97) and an increased risk of the breast cancer being human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (allele model: OR =1.37, 95% CI =1.03-1.18). Moreover, haplotype analysis showed that Ars1800682Trs763110 was associated to a statistically significant degree with lower risk of breast cancer (OR =0.70, 95% CI =0.53-0.91).

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that the presence of Fas rs1800683 is an important risk factor for breast cancer, whereas FasL rs763110 may exert a protective effect against the onset of breast cancer.