TNFRSF13B is a potential contributor to prostate cancer

Uncovering the Role of ALDH1A2 in Prostate Cancer: Insights from Genetic and Expression Analyses

Biochemical recurrence (BCR) is a critical concern in prostate cancer management; however, its underlying genetic determinants remain poorly understood. The aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) gene family is involved in cellular detoxification and biosynthetic processes and has been implicated in various cancers. This study investigated the association between the ALDH1 family members and prostate cancer recurrence. We conducted a two-stage genetic association study involving 134 single-nucleotide polymorphisms within the ALDH1 family to assess their association with BCR-free survival in prostate cancer. Gene set and pathway enrichment analyses were performed to explore the biological relevance of significant genes across multiple datasets. ALDH1A2 rs16939929 showed a robust association with BCR-free survival in both discovery and replication cohorts. Functional analyses indicated that rs16939929 affected ALDH1A2 expression in various tissues. Pooled analysis of 42 prostate cancer gene expression datasets revealed that ALDH1A2 expression was significantly lower in prostate cancer tissues and higher expression was associated with better patient prognosis. Enrichment analyses revealed that ALDH1A2 was co-expressed with genes primarily involved in cell adhesion pathways. Further analysis confirmed that several of these co-expressed cell adhesion molecules were associated with improved patient survival. In addition, ALDH1A2 expression was associated with increased immune cell infiltration into the prostate cancer microenvironment. In conclusion, ALDH1A2 rs16939929 is a significant predictor of BCR-free survival in prostate cancer, potentially through its effects on the gene expressions of ALDH1A2 and cell adhesion molecules. These findings suggest that ALDH1A2 plays a tumor-suppressive role in prostate cancer progression.

Unveiling DENND2D as a Novel Prognostic Biomarker for Prostate Cancer Recurrence: From Gene to Prognosis

Background: Prostate cancer is a major global health burden, with biochemical recurrence (BCR) following radical prostatectomy affecting 20-40% of patients and posing significant challenges to prognosis and treatment. Emerging evidence suggests a critical role for differentially expressed in normal and neoplastic cell (DENN) domain-containing genes in oncogenesis; however, their implications in prostate cancer and BCR risk remain underexplored. Methods: This study systematically evaluated 151 single-nucleotide polymorphisms in DENN domain-containing genes in 458 patients with prostate cancer and BCR, followed by validation in an independent cohort of 185 patients. Results: Multivariate Cox regression analyses identified DENND2D rs610261 G>A as significantly associated with improved BCR-free survival in both cohorts (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.39, 95% confidence interval = 0.23-0.66, p = 0.001). Functional analysis revealed rs610261's regulatory potential, with the protective A allele correlating with increased DENND2D expression in various human tissues. Compared to normal prostate tissues, DENND2D expression was reduced in prostate cancer, with higher expression being linked to favorable patient prognosis (p = 0.03). Gene set enrichment analysis revealed an association between DENND2D expression and the negative regulation of MYC target genes, including MAD2L1, ERH, and CLNS1A, which are overexpressed in prostate cancer and associated with poor survival. Furthermore, the elevated DENND2D expression promotes immune infiltration in prostate cancer, supporting its role in immune modulation. Conclusions:DENND2D is a prognostic biomarker for BCR in prostate cancer and offers new avenues for personalized treatment strategies.

Prognostic Significance of VAV3 Gene Variants and Expression in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is characterized by high mortality and morbidity rates. Vav guanine nucleotide exchange factors (VAVs), crucial for signal transduction between cell membrane receptors and intracellular mediators, have been implicated in carcinogenesis. However, their potential prognostic value in RCC remains unclear. The impact of 150 common VAV polymorphisms on RCC risk and survival was investigated in a cohort of 630 individuals. Publicly available gene expression datasets were utilized to analyze VAV gene expression in relation to patient outcomes. The VAV3 rs17019888 polymorphism was significantly associated with RCC risk and overall survival after adjusting for false discovery rates. Expression quantitative trait loci analysis revealed that the risk allele of rs17019888 is linked to reduced VAV3 expression. Analysis of 19 kidney cancer gene expression datasets revealed lower VAV3 expression in RCC tissues compared to normal tissues, with higher expression correlating with better prognosis. Gene set enrichment analysis demonstrated that VAV3 negatively regulates the ubiquitin-proteasome system, extracellular matrix and membrane receptors, inflammatory responses, matrix metalloproteinases, and cell cycle pathways. Furthermore, elevated VAV3 expression was associated with increased infiltration of B cells, macrophages, and neutrophils into the RCC tumor microenvironment. Our findings suggest that VAV3 gene variants influence RCC risk and survival, contributing to a favorable prognosis in RCC.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Associated with Prostate Cancer Progression: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

New biomarkers of progression in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) are needed to improve their classification and clinical management. This systematic review investigated the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and PCa progression.

METHODS

A keyword search was performed in Pubmed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane for publications between 2007 and 2022. We included articles with adjusted and significant associations, a median follow-up greater than or equal to 24 months, patients taken to radical prostatectomy (RP) as a first therapeutic option, and results presented based on biochemical recurrence (BCR).

RESULTS

In the 27 articles selected, 73 SNPs were identified in 39 genes, organized in seven functional groups. Of these, 50 and 23 SNPs were significantly associated with a higher and lower risk of PCa progression, respectively. Likewise, four haplotypes were found to have a significant association with PCa progression.

CONCLUSION

This article highlights the importance of SNPs as potential markers of PCa progression and their possible functional relationship with some genes relevant to its development and progression. However, most variants were identified only in cohorts from two countries; no additional studies reproduce these findings.

CYBA as a Potential Biomarker for Renal Cell Carcinoma: Evidence from an Integrated Genetic Analysis

BACKGROUND/AIM

Oxidative stress plays an important role in various pathogenic processes, and disruption in the coordinated production of NADPH oxidase (NOX)-derived reactive oxygen species has been associated with carcinogenesis. However, little is known about whether genetic variants in NOX can contribute to the development of renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study aimed to bridge this knowledge gap by analysing the association of 10 single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the phagocyte NOX genes, CYBA and CYBB, with RCC risk and tumour characteristics in 630 RCC patients and controls. Differential gene expression and patient prognosis analyses were performed using gene expression data obtained from public databases.

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis and multiple testing corrections revealed the A allele of rs7195830 in CYBA to be a significant risk allele for RCC, compared to the G allele [odds ratio (OR)=1.70, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.27-2.26, p<0.001]. A pooled analysis of 17 renal cancer gene expression datasets revealed a higher CYBA expression in RCC than in normal tissues. Moreover, high CYBA expression was associated with advanced tumour characteristics and worse patient prognosis.

CONCLUSION

CYBA might play an oncogenic role in RCC and serve as a predictive indicator of patient prognosis.