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Rasmussen M, Fredsøe J, Salachan PV, Blanke MPL, Larsen SH, Ulhøi BP, Jensen JB, Borre M, Sørensen KD. Stroma-specific gene expression signature identifies prostate cancer subtype with high recurrence risk. NPJ Precis Oncol 2024; 8:48. [PMID: 38395986 PMCID: PMC10891092 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-024-00540-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Current prognostic tools cannot clearly distinguish indolent and aggressive prostate cancer (PC). We hypothesized that analyzing individual contributions of epithelial and stromal components in localized PC (LPC) could improve risk stratification, as stromal subtypes may have been overlooked due to the emphasis on malignant epithelial cells. Hence, we derived molecular subtypes of PC using gene expression analysis of LPC samples from prostatectomy patients (cohort 1, n = 127) and validated these subtypes in two independent prostatectomy cohorts (cohort 2, n = 406, cohort 3, n = 126). Stroma and epithelium-specific signatures were established from laser-capture microdissection data and non-negative matrix factorization was used to identify subtypes based on these signatures. Subtypes were functionally characterized by gene set and cell type enrichment analyses, and survival analysis was conducted. Three epithelial (E1-E3) and three stromal (S1-S3) PC subtypes were identified. While subtyping based on epithelial signatures showed inconsistent associations to biochemical recurrence (BCR), subtyping by stromal signatures was significantly associated with BCR in all three cohorts, with subtype S3 indicating high BCR risk. Subtype S3 exhibited distinct features, including significantly decreased cell-polarity and myogenesis, significantly increased infiltration of M2-polarized macrophages and CD8 + T-cells compared to subtype S1. For patients clinically classified as CAPRA-S intermediate risk, S3 improved prediction of BCR. This study demonstrates the potential of stromal signatures in identification of clinically relevant PC subtypes, and further indicated that stromal characterization may enhance risk stratification in LPC and may be particularly promising in cases with high prognostic ambiguity based on clinical parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Rasmussen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital (AUH), Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jacob Fredsøe
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital (AUH), Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Paul Vinu Salachan
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital (AUH), Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Marcus Pii Lunau Blanke
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital (AUH), Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Stine Hesselby Larsen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital (AUH), Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Jørgen Bjerggaard Jensen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Urology, Gødstrup Hospital, Herning, Denmark
| | - Michael Borre
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Urology, Aarhus University Hospital (AUH), Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Karina Dalsgaard Sørensen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital (AUH), Aarhus, Denmark.
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
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Wang Q, Feng C, Chen Y, Peng T, Li Y, Wu K, Pu X, Chen H, Liu J. Evaluation of CD47 in the Suppressive Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy in Prostate Cancer. J Immunol Res 2023; 2023:2473075. [PMID: 37719086 PMCID: PMC10505079 DOI: 10.1155/2023/2473075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background CD47 has high levels of expression in malignant cancer cells, which binds to SIRP-α to release the "don't eat me" signal and prevents mononuclear macrophages from phagocytosing the cells. Resistance to drugs and metastases are potential barriers for prostate cancer endocrine therapy. Although immunotherapy for tumors has developed rapidly in the last few decades, its effectiveness in treating prostate cancer is unsatisfactory. Prostate cancer has a high-expression level of CD47. Therefore, a novel approach for potential immunotherapy may be provided by investigating the relationship among CD47 and the infiltration of immune cells in the prostate carcinoma. Methods The GEPIA database was utilized to compare the abundance of CD47 in malignant tissues with tissues that were normal. Furthermore, the function of CD47 in prostate carcinoma was assessed by CancerSEA. The association among CD47 and the tumor microenvironment was assessed utilizing the TISCH single cell data database. By using TIMER, the connection among CD47 and immunological invasion of prostate cancer was explored. Moreover, macrophages were cocultured with mouse prostate cancer cell RM-1 blocked by CD47 antibody to observe the changes in phagocytosis efficiency in vitro. Results Expression level of CD47 is upregulated in prostate carcinoma, and it is closely connected with prostate cancer's inadequate immune invasion. CD47 antibody blocking promotes macrophage phagocytosis of RM-1. Conclusion Our research demonstrates a closely relationship among CD47 and the immunological microenvironment of prostate cancer, and blocking CD47 can promote macrophages to phagocytosis of prostate cancer cells. Therefore, CD47 may provide novel strategies for potential immunotherapy of prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Wang
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Department of Urology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Chunxaing Feng
- Department of Urology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yuchun Chen
- Department of Urology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Tianming Peng
- Department of Urology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yong Li
- Department of Urology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Kunlin Wu
- Department of Urology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xiaoyong Pu
- Department of Urology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Hanzhong Chen
- Department of Urology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jiumin Liu
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Department of Urology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510080, China
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Wen YC, Tram VTN, Chen WH, Li CH, Yeh HL, Thuy Dung PV, Jiang KC, Li HR, Huang J, Hsiao M, Chen WY, Liu YN. CHRM4/AKT/MYCN upregulates interferon alpha-17 in the tumor microenvironment to promote neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:304. [PMID: 37142586 PMCID: PMC10160040 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05836-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Current treatment options for prostate cancer focus on targeting androgen receptor (AR) signaling. Inhibiting effects of AR may activate neuroendocrine differentiation and lineage plasticity pathways, thereby promoting the development of neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC). Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of AR has important clinical implications for this most aggressive type of prostate cancer. Here, we demonstrated the tumor-suppressive role of the AR and found that activated AR could directly bind to the regulatory sequence of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor 4 (CHRM4) and downregulate its expression. CHRM4 was highly expressed in prostate cancer cells after androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT). CHRM4 overexpression may drive neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer cells and is associated with immunosuppressive cytokine responses in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of prostate cancer. Mechanistically, CHRM4-driven AKT/MYCN signaling upregulated the interferon alpha 17 (IFNA17) cytokine in the prostate cancer TME after ADT. IFNA17 mediates a feedback mechanism in the TME by activating the CHRM4/AKT/MYCN signaling-driven immune checkpoint pathway and neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer cells. We explored the therapeutic efficacy of targeting CHRM4 as a potential treatment for NEPC and evaluated IFNA17 secretion in the TME as a possible predictive prognostic biomarker for NEPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Ching Wen
- Department of Urology, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11696, Taiwan
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
- TMU Research Center of Urology and Kidney, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Van Thi Ngoc Tram
- International PhD Program in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Hao Chen
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Hsiu Li
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Hsiu-Lien Yeh
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Phan Vu Thuy Dung
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Ching Jiang
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Han-Ru Li
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan
| | - Jiaoti Huang
- Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Michael Hsiao
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Yu Chen
- Department of Pathology, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11696, Taiwan.
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan.
| | - Yen-Nien Liu
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan.
- TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 11031, Taiwan.
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Ge R, Wang Z, Cheng L. Tumor microenvironment heterogeneity an important mediator of prostate cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. NPJ Precis Oncol 2022; 6:31. [PMID: 35508696 PMCID: PMC9068628 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-022-00272-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer is characterized by a high degree of heterogeneity, which poses a major challenge to precision therapy and drug development. In this review, we discuss how nongenetic factors contribute to heterogeneity of prostate cancer. We also discuss tumor heterogeneity and phenotypic switching related to anticancer therapies. Lastly, we summarize the challenges targeting the tumor environments, and emphasize that continued exploration of tumor heterogeneity is needed in order to offer a personalized therapy for advanced prostate cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongbin Ge
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Zongwei Wang
- Department of Surgery, Division of Urologic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Liang Cheng
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA. .,Department of Urology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Although most studies focus on the tumour component of prostate cancer (PCa), increasing attention is being paid to the prostatic tumour microenvironment (TME) and its role in diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy development. Herein, we review the prognostic capability of tumour and nontumour derived biomarkers, the immunomodulatory effects of focal therapy (FT) on TME, and its potential as part of a multidisciplinary approach to PCa treatment. RECENT FINDINGS Tumour cells have always been the natural candidates to explore new biomarkers, but recent evidence highlights the prognostic contribution of TME cell markers. TME plays a critical role in PCa progression and tumours may escape from the immune system by establishing a microenvironment that suppresses effective antitumour immunity. It has been demonstrated that FT has an immunomodulatory effect and may elicit an immune response that can either favour or inhibit tumorigenesis. TME shows to be an additional target to enhance oncological control. SUMMARY A better understanding of TME has the potential to reliably elucidate PCa heterogeneity and assign a prognostic profile in accordance with prostate tumour foci. The joint contribution of biomarkers derived from both tumour and TME compartments may improve patient selection for FT by accurately stratifying disease aggressivity according to the characteristics of tumour foci. Preclinical studies have suggested that FT may act as a TME modulator, highlighting its promising role in multimodal therapeutic management.
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