A novel prognostic model for prostate cancer based on androgen biosynthetic and catabolic pathways

Transcriptomic miRNA and mRNA signatures in primary prostate cancer that are associated with lymph-node invasion

BACKGROUND

Nomograms or comparable techniques can be used to determine which patients with prostate cancer (PCa) will benefit from extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND). While nomograms help guide clinical decisions, ∼80% of the patients undergo unnecessary ePLND. This pilot study aims to identify both transcriptomic mRNA and microRNA (miR) signatures in primary PCa tumours that are associated with the presence of lymph node metastasis (LNM).

METHODS

Primary PCa tumours obtained from 88 patients (pathologically diagnosed as N0 [pN0, n = 44] or as N1 [pN1, n = 44]) were profiled using two different probe-based captured direct assays based on next-generation sequencing and targeting 19398 mRNA transcripts (human transcriptome panel [HTP] dataset) and 2083 miRs (miRs whole-transcriptome assay [WTA] dataset). The TCGA-PRAD (pN0 [n = 382] and pN1 [n = 70]) and GSE220095 (pN0 [n = 138] and pN1 [n = 17]) datasets were used for validation using bioinformatic analyses.

RESULTS

A four-mRNA signature (CHRNA2, NPR3, VGLL3 and PAH) was found in primary tumour tissue samples from pN1 PCa patients, and then it was validated using the TCGA-PRAD and GSE220095 datasets. Adding serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values to the four-gene signature increased the performance to identify pN1 (HTP [AUC = .8487, p = 2.18e-09], TCGA-PRAD [AUC = .7150, p = 8.66e-08] and GSE220095 datasets [AUC = .8772, p = 4.09e-07]). Paired miR analyses showed that eight miRs were significantly upregulated in primary PCa that were pN1 (p < .01). The eight-miR signature performance increased when adding PSA (WTA dataset [AUC = .8626, p = 4.66e-10]) or Grade group (WTA dataset [AUC = .8689, p = 2e-10]). When combining the miR/mRNA signatures (miR-663b, CHRNA2 and PAH) with PSA levels, it showed the best performance to distinguish pN1 from pN0 PCa patients.

CONCLUSION

This study found miR/mRNA signatures in primary PCa tumours that in combination with serum PSA levels may complement nomograms for better detection of PCa patients with LNM and triage patients into better surgical decision-making.

KEY POINTS

Primary prostate cancer (PCa) tumours from patients pathologically diagnosed as N0 (pN0) or N1 (pN1) were dually assessed for microRNA (miRs) and mRNA levels using an NGS-based assay. A four-mRNA and an eight-miRNA signature were found. The mRNA signatures were further validated using two datasets. The combination of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels or Grade Group with the miR/mRNA signatures separates pN1 from pN0 PCa patients.

The differential expression of AFF3 in cervical cancer and its correlation with clinicopathological features and prognosis

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer (CC) is the second most common malignancy in women, and identifying biomarkers of CC is crucial for prognosis prediction. Here, we investigated the expression of AF4/FMR2 Family Member 3 (AFF3) in CC and its association with clinicopathological features and prognosis.

METHODS

Tumour and adjacent tissues, along with clinicopathological features and follow-up information, were collected from 78 patients. AFF3 expression was assessed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. The correlation between AFF3 expression and CC symptoms was using chi-square test. The 5-year overall survival (OS) was analysed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The Univariate analysis of prognostic risk factors was conducted using the COX proportional hazards model, followed by multivariate COX regression analysis including variables with p < 0.01.

RESULTS

AFF3 expression was downregulated in CC, and its levels were correlated with lymph node metastasis (LNM) and International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage. Patients with low AFF3 expression had a lower 5-year OS rate (52.78%, 19/36). Postoperative survival was reduced in patients with histological grade 3 (G3), myometrial invasion (depth ≥ 1/2), lymphovascular space invasion, LNM, and advanced FIGO stage. Low expression of AFF3 (HR: 2.848, 95% CI: 1.144-7.090) and histological grade G3 (HR: 4.393, 95% CI: 1.663-11.607) were identified as independent prognostic risk factors in CC patients.

CONCLUSION

Low expression of AFF3 and histological G3 are independent predictors of poor prognosis in CC patients, suggesting that AFF3 could serve as a potential biomarker for prognostic assessment in CC.

Loss of AR-regulated AFF3 contributes to prostate cancer progression and reduces ferroptosis sensitivity by downregulating ACSL4 based on single-cell sequencing analysis

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers affecting the health of men worldwide. Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), the advanced and refractory phase of prostate cancer, has multiple mechanisms of resistance to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) such as AR mutations, aberrant androgen synthase, and abnormal expression of AR-related genes. Based on the research of the AR pathway, new drugs for the treatment of CRPC have been developed in clinical practice, such as Abiraterone and enzalutamide. However, many areas in this pathway are still worth exploring. In this study, single-cell sequencing analysis was utilized to scrutinize significant genes in the androgen receptor (AR) pathway related to CRPC. Our analysis of single-cell sequencing combined with bulk-cell sequencing revealed a substantial downregulation of AR-regulated AFF3 in CRPC. Overexpression of AFF3 restricted the proliferation and migration of prostate cancer cells whilst also increasing their sensitivity towards enzalutamide, while knockdown of AFF3 had the opposite effect. To elucidate the mechanism of tumor inhibition by AFF3, we applied GSVA and GSEA to investigate the metabolic pathways related to AFF3 and revealed that AFF3 had an impact on fatty acids metabolism and ferroptosis through the regulation of ACSL4 protein expression. Based on correlation analysis and flow cytometry, we can speculate that AFF3 can impact the sensitivity of the CRPC cell lines to the ferroptosis inducer (RSL3) by regulating ACSL4. Therefore, our findings may provide new insights into the mechanisms of drug resistance in CRPC, and AFF3 may serve as a novel prognostic biomarker in prostate cancer.

Individualized detection of TMPRSS2-ERG fusion status in prostate cancer: a rank-based qualitative transcriptome signature

BACKGROUND

TMPRSS2-ERG (T2E) fusion is highly related to aggressive clinical features in prostate cancer (PC), which guides individual therapy. However, current fusion prediction tools lacked enough accuracy and biomarkers were unable to be applied to individuals across different platforms due to their quantitative nature. This study aims to identify a transcriptome signature to detect the T2E fusion status of PC at the individual level.

METHODS

Based on 272 high-throughput mRNA expression profiles from the Sboner dataset, we developed a rank-based algorithm to identify a qualitative signature to detect T2E fusion in PC. The signature was validated in 1223 samples from three external datasets (Setlur, Clarissa, and TCGA).

RESULTS

A signature, composed of five mRNAs coupled to ERG (five ERG-mRNA pairs, 5-ERG-mRPs), was developed to distinguish T2E fusion status in PC. 5-ERG-mRPs reached 84.56% accuracy in Sboner dataset, which was verified in Setlur dataset (n = 455, accuracy = 82.20%) and Clarissa dataset (n = 118, accuracy = 81.36%). Besides, for 495 samples from TCGA, two subtypes classified by 5-ERG-mRPs showed a higher level of significance in various T2E fusion features than subtypes obtained through current fusion prediction tools, such as STAR-Fusion.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, 5-ERG-mRPs can robustly detect T2E fusion in PC at the individual level, which can be used on any gene measurement platform without specific normalization procedures. Hence, 5-ERG-mRPs may serve as an auxiliary tool for PC patient management.

Research progress on the role of cationic amino acid transporter (CAT) family members in malignant tumors and immune microenvironment

Amino acids are essential for the survival of all living organisms and living cells. Amino acid transporters mediate the transport and absorption of amino acids, and the dysfunction of these proteins can induce human diseases. Cationic amino acid transporters (CAT family, SLC7A1-4, and SLC7A14) are considered to be a group of transmembrane transporters, of which SLC7A1-3 are essential for arginine transport in mammals. Numerous studies have shown that CAT family-mediated arginine transport is involved in signal crosstalk between malignant tumor cells and immune cells, especially T cells. The modulation of extracellular arginine concentration has entered a number of clinical trials and achieved certain therapeutic effects. Here, we review the role of CAT family on tumor cells and immune infiltrating cells in malignant tumors and explore the therapeutic strategies to interfere with extracellular arginine concentration, to elaborate its application prospects. CAT family members may be used as biomarkers for certain cancer entities and might be included in new ideas for immunotherapy of malignant tumors.