Identification of a 5-gene signature panel for the prediction of prostate cancer progression.

BACKGROUND: Despite nearly 100% 5-year survival for localised prostate cancer, the survival rate for metastatic prostate cancer significantly declines to 32%. Thus, it is crucial to identify molecular indicators that reflect the progression from localised disease to metastatic prostate cancer. METHODS: To search for molecular indicators associated with prostate cancer metastasis, we performed proteomic analysis of rapid autopsy tissue samples from metastatic prostate cancer (N = 8) and localised prostate cancer (N = 2). Then, we utilised multiple independent, publicly available prostate cancer patient datasets to select candidates that also correlate with worse prostate cancer clinical prognosis. RESULTS: We identified 154 proteins with increased expressions in metastases relative to localised prostate cancer through proteomic analysis. From the subset of these candidates that correlate with prostate cancer recurrence (N = 28) and shorter disease-free survival (N = 37), we identified a 5-gene signature panel with improved performance in predicting worse clinical prognosis relative to individual candidates. CONCLUSIONS: Our study presents a new 5-gene signature panel that is associated with worse clinical prognosis and is elevated in prostate cancer metastasis on both protein and mRNA levels. Our 5-gene signature panel represents a potential modality for the prediction of prostate cancer progression towards the onset of metastasis.

A Multiplexed Quantitative Proteomics Approach to the Human Plasma Protein Signature.

Despite the plasma proteome being able to provide a unique insight into the health and disease status of individuals, holding singular promise as a source of protein biomarkers that could be pivotal in the context of personalized medicine, only around 100 proteins covering a few human conditions have been approved as biomarkers by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) so far. Mass spectrometry (MS) currently has enormous potential for high-throughput analysis in clinical research; however, plasma proteomics remains challenging mainly due to the wide dynamic range of plasma protein abundances and the time-consuming procedures required. We applied a new MS-based multiplexed proteomics workflow to quantitate proteins, encompassing 67 FDA-approved biomarkers, in >1300 human plasma samples from a clinical cohort. Our results indicate that this workflow is suitable for large-scale clinical studies, showing good accuracy and reproducibility (coefficient of variation (CV) < 20 for 90% of the proteins). Furthermore, we identified plasma signature proteins (stable in time on an individual basis), stable proteins (exhibiting low biological variability and high temporal stability), and highly variable proteins (with low temporal stability) that can be used for personalized health monitoring and medicine.

Establishing and Characterizing the Molecular Profiles, Cellular Features, and Clinical Utility of a Patient-Derived Xenograft Model Using Benign Prostatic Tissues.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition marked by the enlargement of the prostate gland, which often leads to significant urinary symptoms and a decreased quality of life. The development of clinically relevant animal models is crucial for understanding the pathophysiology of BPH and improving treatment options. This study aims to establish a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model using benign prostatic tissues to explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms of BPH. PDXs were generated by implanting fresh BPH (transition zone) and paired normal (peripheral zone) prostate tissue from 8 patients under the renal capsule of immunodeficient male mice. Tissue weight, architecture, cellular proliferation, apoptosis, prostate-specific marker expression, and molecular profiles of PDXs were assessed after 1 week and 1, 2, or 3 months of implantation by immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, transcriptomics, and proteomics. Responses to finasteride, a standard-of-care therapy, were evaluated. PDXs maintained histologic and molecular characteristics of the parental human tissues. BPH, but not normal PDXs, demonstrated significant increases in weight and cellular proliferation, particularly at 1 month. Molecular profiling revealed specific gene and protein expression patterns correlating with BPH pathophysiology. Specifically, an increased immune and stress response was observed at 1 week, followed by increased expression of proliferation markers and BPH-specific stromal signaling molecules, such as BMP5 and CXCL13, at 1 month. Graft stabilization to preimplant characteristics was apparent between 2 and 3 months. Treatment with finasteride reduced proliferation, increased apoptosis, and induced morphologic changes consistent with therapeutic responses observed in human BPH. Our PDX model recapitulates the morphologic, histologic, and molecular features of human BPH, offering a significant advancement in modeling the complex interactions of cell types in BPH microenvironments. These PDXs respond to therapeutic intervention as expected, providing a valuable tool for preclinical testing of new therapeutics that will improve the well-being of BPH patients.

Inhibition of protein translational machinery in triple-negative breast cancer as a promising therapeutic strategy.

Y-box binding protein-1 (YB-1) is a proto-oncogenic protein associated with protein translation regulation. It plays a crucial role in the development and progression of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In this study, we describe a promising approach to inhibit YB-1 using SU056, a small-molecule inhibitor. SU056 physically interacts with YB-1 and reduces its expression, which helps to restrain the progression of TNBC. Proteome profiling analysis indicates that the inhibition of YB-1 by SU056 can alter the proteins that regulate protein translation, an essential process for cancer cell growth. Preclinical studies on human cells, mice, and patient-derived xenograft tumor models show the effectiveness of SU056. Moreover, toxicological studies have shown that SU056 treatment and dosing are well tolerated without any adverse effects. Overall, our study provides a strong foundation for the further development of SU056 as a potential treatment option for patients with TNBC by targeting YB-1.

Identification and characterization of intact glycopeptides in human urine.

Glycoproteins in urine have the potential to provide a rich class of informative molecules for studying human health and disease. Despite this promise, the urine glycoproteome has been largely uncharacterized. Here, we present the analysis of glycoproteins in human urine using LC-MS/MS-based intact glycopeptide analysis, providing both the identification of protein glycosites and characterization of the glycan composition at specific glycosites. Gene enrichment analysis reveals differences in biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions in the urine glycoproteome versus the urine proteome, as well as differences based on the major glycan class observed on proteins. Meta-heterogeneity of glycosylation is examined on proteins to determine the variation in glycosylation across multiple sites of a given protein with specific examples of individual sites differing from the glycosylation trends in the overall protein. Taken together, this dataset represents a potentially valuable resource as a baseline characterization of glycoproteins in human urine for future urine glycoproteomics studies.

UCHL1 is a potential molecular indicator and therapeutic target for neuroendocrine carcinomas.

Neuroendocrine carcinomas, such as neuroendocrine prostate cancer and small-cell lung cancer, commonly have a poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. We report that ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1), a deubiquitinating enzyme, is elevated in tissues and plasma from patients with neuroendocrine carcinomas. Loss of UCHL1 decreases tumor growth and inhibits metastasis of these malignancies. UCHL1 maintains neuroendocrine differentiation and promotes cancer progression by regulating nucleoporin, POM121, and p53. UCHL1 binds, deubiquitinates, and stabilizes POM121 to regulate POM121-associated nuclear transport of E2F1 and c-MYC. Treatment with the UCHL1 inhibitor LDN-57444 slows tumor growth and metastasis across neuroendocrine carcinomas. The combination of UCHL1 inhibitors with cisplatin, the standard of care used for neuroendocrine carcinomas, significantly delays tumor growth in pre-clinical settings. Our study reveals mechanisms of UCHL1 function in regulating the progression of neuroendocrine carcinomas and identifies UCHL1 as a therapeutic target and potential molecular indicator for diagnosing and monitoring treatment responses in these malignancies.

Guanylate-binding protein 1 modulates proteasomal machinery in ovarian cancer.

Guanylate-binding protein 1 (GBP1) is known as an interferon-γ-induced GTPase. Here, we used genetically modified ovarian cancer (OC) cells to study the role of GBP1. The data generated show that GBP1 inhibition constrains the clonogenic potential of cancer cells. In vivo studies revealed that GBP1 overexpression in tumors promotes tumor progression and reduces median survival, whereas GBP1 inhibition delayed tumor progression with longer median survival. We employed proteomics-based thermal stability assay (CETSA) on GBP1 knockdown and overexpressed OC cells to study its molecular functions. CETSA results show that GBP1 interacts with many members of the proteasome. Furthermore, GBP1 inhibition sensitizes OC cells to paclitaxel treatment via accumulated ubiquitinylated proteins where GBP1 inhibition decreases the overall proteasomal activity. In contrast, GBP1-overexpressing cells acquired paclitaxel resistance via boosted cellular proteasomal activity. Overall, these studies expand the role of GBP1 in the activation of proteasomal machinery to acquire chemoresistance.

The role of GCNT1 mediated O-glycosylation in aggressive prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and a major cause of cancer related deaths worldwide. Nearly all affected men develop resistance to current therapies and there is an urgent need to develop new treatments for advanced disease. Aberrant glycosylation is a common feature of cancer cells implicated in all of the hallmarks of cancer. A major driver of aberrant glycosylation in cancer is the altered expression of glycosylation enzymes. Here, we show that GCNT1, an enzyme that plays an essential role in the formation of core 2 branched O-glycans and is crucial to the final definition of O-glycan structure, is upregulated in aggressive prostate cancer. Using in vitro and in vivo models, we show GCNT1 promotes the growth of prostate tumours and can modify the glycome of prostate cancer cells, including upregulation of core 2 O-glycans and modifying the O-glycosylation of secreted glycoproteins. Furthermore, using RNA sequencing, we find upregulation of GCNT1 in prostate cancer cells can alter oncogenic gene expression pathways important in tumour growth and metastasis. Our study highlights the important role of aberrant O-glycosylation in prostate cancer progression and provides novel insights regarding the mechanisms involved.

ST6GAL1-mediated aberrant sialylation promotes prostate cancer progression.

Aberrant glycosylation is a universal feature of cancer cells, and cancer-associated glycans have been detected in virtually every cancer type. A common change in tumour cell glycosylation is an increase in α2,6 sialylation of N-glycans, a modification driven by the sialyltransferase ST6GAL1. ST6GAL1 is overexpressed in numerous cancer types, and sialylated glycans are fundamental for tumour growth, metastasis, immune evasion, and drug resistance, but the role of ST6GAL1 in prostate cancer is poorly understood. Here, we analyse matched cancer and normal tissue samples from 200 patients and verify that ST6GAL1 is upregulated in prostate cancer tissue. Using MALDI imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-IMS), we identify larger branched α2,6 sialylated N-glycans that show specificity to prostate tumour tissue. We also monitored ST6GAL1 in plasma samples from >400 patients and reveal ST6GAL1 levels are significantly increased in the blood of men with prostate cancer. Using both in vitro and in vivo studies, we demonstrate that ST6GAL1 promotes prostate tumour growth and invasion. Our findings show ST6GAL1 introduces α2,6 sialylated N-glycans on prostate cancer cells and raise the possibility that prostate cancer cells can secrete active ST6GAL1 enzyme capable of remodelling glycans on the surface of other cells. Furthermore, we find α2,6 sialylated N-glycans expressed by prostate cancer cells can be targeted using the sialyltransferase inhibitor P-3FAX -Neu5Ac. Our study identifies an important role for ST6GAL1 and α2,6 sialylated N-glycans in prostate cancer progression and highlights the opportunity to inhibit abnormal sialylation for the development of new prostate cancer therapeutics. © 2023 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Proteomics analysis of urine and catheter-associated biofilms in spinal cord injury patients.

After spinal cord injury (SCI), use chronic urinary catheters for bladder management is common, making these patients especially vulnerable to catheter-associated complications. Chronic catheterization is associated with bacterial colonization and frequent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). One determinant of infection success and treatment resistance is production of catheter-associated biofilms, composed of microorganisms and host- and microbial-derived components. To better understand the biofilm microenvironment, we performed proteomics analysis of catheter-associated biofilms and paired urine samples from four people with SCI with chronic indwelling urinary catheters. We developed a novel method for the removal of adhered cellular components on catheters that contained both human and microbial homologous proteins. Proteins from seven microbial species were identified including: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species (spp), Enterococcus spp, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas spp, Staphylococcus spp, and Candida spp. Peptides identified from catheter biofilms were assigned to 4,820 unique proteins, with 61% of proteins assigned to the biofilm-associated microorganisms, while the remainder were human-derived. Contrastingly, in urine, only 51% were assigned to biofilm-associated microorganisms and 4,554 proteins were identified as a human-derived. Of the proteins assigned to microorganisms in the biofilm and paired urine, Enterococcus, Candida spp, and P. mirabilis had greater associations with the biofilm phase, whereas E. coli and Klebsiella had greater associations with the urine phase, thus demonstrating a significant difference between the urine and adhered microbial communities. The microbial proteins that differed significantly between the biofilm and paired urine samples mapped to pathways associated with amino acid synthesis, likely related to adaptation to high urea concentrations in the urine, and growth and protein synthesis in bacteria in the biofilm. Human proteins demonstrated enrichment for immune response in the catheter-associated biofilm. Proteomic analysis of catheter-associated biofilms and paired urine samples has the potential to provide detailed information on host and bacterial responses to chronic indwelling urinary catheters and could be useful for understanding complications of chronic indwelling catheters including CAUTIs, urinary stones, and catheter blockages.

Lineage Plasticity in SCLC Generates Non-Neuroendocrine Cells Primed for Vasculogenic Mimicry.

INTRODUCTION: Vasculogenic mimicry (VM), the process of tumor cell transdifferentiation to endow endothelial-like characteristics supporting de novo vessel formation, is associated with poor prognosis in several tumor types, including SCLC. In genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) of SCLC, NOTCH, and MYC co-operate to drive a neuroendocrine (NE) to non-NE phenotypic switch, and co-operation between NE and non-NE cells is required for metastasis. Here, we define the phenotype of VM-competent cells and molecular mechanisms underpinning SCLC VM using circulating tumor cell-derived explant (CDX) models and GEMMs. METHODS: We analyzed perfusion within VM vessels and their association with NE and non-NE phenotypes using multiplex immunohistochemistry in CDX, GEMMs, and patient biopsies. We evaluated their three-dimensional structure and defined collagen-integrin interactions. RESULTS: We found that VM vessels are present in 23/25 CDX models, 2 GEMMs, and in 20 patient biopsies of SCLC. Perfused VM vessels support tumor growth and only NOTCH-active non-NE cells are VM-competent in vivo and ex vivo, expressing pseudohypoxia, blood vessel development, and extracellular matrix organization signatures. On Matrigel, VM-primed non-NE cells remodel extracellular matrix into hollow tubules in an integrin ß1-dependent process. CONCLUSIONS: We identified VM as an exemplar of functional heterogeneity and plasticity in SCLC and these findings take considerable steps toward understanding the molecular events that enable VM. These results support therapeutic co-targeting of both NE and non-NE cells to curtail SCLC progression and to improve the outcomes of patients with SCLC in the future.

Integrated transcriptome-proteome analyses of human stem cells reveal source-dependent differences in their regenerative signature.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are gaining increasing prominence as an effective regenerative cellular therapy. However, ensuring consistent and reliable effects across clinical populations has proved to be challenging. In part, this can be attributed to heterogeneity in the intrinsic molecular and regenerative signature of MSCs, which is dependent on their source of origin. The present work uses integrated omics-based profiling, at different functional levels, to compare the anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and angiogenic properties between MSCs from neonatal (umbilical cord MSC [UC-MSC]) and adult (adipose tissue MSC [AD-MSC], and bone marrow MSC [BM-MSC]) sources. Using multi-parametric analyses, we identified that UC-MSCs promote a more robust host innate immune response; in contrast, adult-MSCs appear to facilitate remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) with stronger activation of angiogenic cascades. These data should help facilitate the standardization of source-specific MSCs, such that their regenerative signatures can be confidently used to target specific disease processes.

Interplay between the Chd4/NuRD Complex and the Transcription Factor Znf219 Controls Cardiac Cell Identity.

The sarcomere regulates striated muscle contraction. This structure is composed of several myofibril proteins, isoforms of which are encoded by genes specific to either the heart or skeletal muscle. The chromatin remodeler complex Chd4/NuRD regulates the transcriptional expression of these specific sarcomeric programs by repressing genes of the skeletal muscle sarcomere in the heart. Aberrant expression of skeletal muscle genes induced by the loss of Chd4 in the heart leads to sudden death due to defects in cardiomyocyte contraction that progress to arrhythmia and fibrosis. Identifying the transcription factors (TFs) that recruit Chd4/NuRD to repress skeletal muscle genes in the myocardium will provide important information for understanding numerous cardiac pathologies and, ultimately, pinpointing new therapeutic targets for arrhythmias and cardiomyopathies. Here, we sought to find Chd4 interactors and their function in cardiac homeostasis. We therefore describe a physical interaction between Chd4 and the TF Znf219 in cardiac tissue. Znf219 represses the skeletal-muscle sarcomeric program in cardiomyocytes in vitro and in vivo, similarly to Chd4. Aberrant expression of skeletal-muscle sarcomere proteins in mouse hearts with knocked down Znf219 translates into arrhythmias, accompanied by an increase in PR interval. These data strongly suggest that the physical and genetic interaction of Znf219 and Chd4 in the mammalian heart regulates cardiomyocyte identity and myocardial contraction.

SU086, an inhibitor of HSP90, impairs glycolysis and represents a treatment strategy for advanced prostate cancer.

Among men, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-associated mortality, with advanced disease remaining a major clinical challenge. We describe a small molecule, SU086, as a therapeutic strategy for advanced prostate cancer. We demonstrate that SU086 inhibits the growth of prostate cancer cells in vitro, cell-line and patient-derived xenografts in vivo, and ex vivo prostate cancer patient specimens. Furthermore, SU086 in combination with standard of care second-generation anti-androgen therapies displays increased impairment of prostate cancer cell and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Cellular thermal shift assay reveals that SU086 binds to heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) and leads to a decrease in HSP90 levels. Proteomic profiling demonstrates that SU086 binds to and decreases HSP90. Metabolomic profiling reveals that SU086 leads to perturbation of glycolysis. Our study identifies SU086 as a treatment for advanced prostate cancer as a single agent or when combined with second-generation anti-androgens.

Protein signatures to distinguish aggressive from indolent prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Distinguishing men with aggressive from indolent prostate cancer is critical to decisions in the management of clinically localized prostate cancer. Molecular signatures of aggressive disease could help men overcome this major clinical challenge by reducing unnecessary treatment and allowing more appropriate treatment of aggressive disease. METHODS: We performed a mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis of normal and malignant prostate tissues from 22 men who underwent surgery for prostate cancer. Prostate cancer samples included Grade Groups (3-5), with 8 patients experiencing recurrence and 14 without evidence of recurrence with a mean of 6.8 years of follow-up. To better understand the biological pathways underlying prostate cancer aggressiveness, we performed a systems biology analysis and gene enrichment analysis. Proteins that distinguished recurrent from nonrecurrent cancer were chosen for validation by immunohistochemical analysis on tissue microarrays containing samples from a larger cohort of patients with recurrent and nonrecurrent prostate cancer. RESULTS: In all, 24,037 unique peptides (false discovery rate < 1%) corresponding to 3,313 distinct proteins were identified with absolute abundance ranges spanning seven orders of magnitude. Of these proteins, 115 showed significantly (p < 0.01) different levels in tissues from recurrent versus nonrecurrent cancers. Analysis of all differentially expressed proteins in recurrent and nonrecurrent cases identified several protein networks, most prominently one in which approximately 24% of the proteins in the network were regulated by the YY1 transcription factor (adjusted p < 0.001). Strong immunohistochemical staining levels of three differentially expressed proteins, POSTN, CALR, and CTSD, on a tissue microarray validated their association with shorter patient survival. CONCLUSIONS: The protein signatures identified could improve understanding of the molecular drivers of aggressive prostate cancer and be used as candidate prognostic biomarkers.

Multiomics Analysis of Spatially Distinct Stromal Cells Reveals Tumor-Induced O-Glycosylation of the CDK4-pRB Axis in Fibroblasts at the Invasive Tumor Edge.

The invasive leading edge represents a potential gateway for tumor metastasis. The role of fibroblasts from the tumor edge in promoting cancer invasion and metastasis has not been comprehensively elucidated. We hypothesize that cross-talk between tumor and stromal cells within the tumor microenvironment results in activation of key biological pathways depending on their position in the tumor (edge vs. core). Here we highlight phenotypic differences between tumor-adjacent-fibroblasts (TAF) from the invasive edge and tumor core fibroblasts from the tumor core, established from human lung adenocarcinomas. A multiomics approach that includes genomics, proteomics, and O-glycoproteomics was used to characterize cross-talk between TAFs and cancer cells. These analyses showed that O-glycosylation, an essential posttranslational modification resulting from sugar metabolism, alters key biological pathways including the cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) and phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein axis in the stroma and indirectly modulates proinvasive features of cancer cells. In summary, the O-glycoproteome represents a new consideration for important biological processes involved in tumor-stroma cross-talk and a potential avenue to improve the anticancer efficacy of CDK4 inhibitors. SIGNIFICANCE: A multiomics analysis of spatially distinct fibroblasts establishes the importance of the stromal O-glycoproteome in tumor-stroma interactions at the leading edge and provides potential strategies to improve cancer treatment. See related commentary by De Wever, p. 537.

Engineered Cell-Derived Vesicles Displaying Targeting Peptide and Functionalized with Nanocarriers for Therapeutic microRNA Delivery to Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in Mice.

Polymeric nanocarriers (PNCs) can be used to deliver therapeutic microRNAs (miRNAs) to solid cancers. However, the ability of these nanocarriers to specifically target tumors remains a challenge. Alternatively, extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from tumor cells show homotypic affinity to parent cells, but loading sufficient amounts of miRNAs into EVs is difficult. Here, it is investigated whether uPAR-targeted delivery of nanococktails containing PNCs loaded with therapeutic antimiRNAs, and coated with uPA engineered extracellular vesicles (uPA-eEVs) can elicit synergistic antitumor responses. The uPA-eEVs coating on PNCs increases natural tumor targeting affinities, thereby enhancing the antitumor activity of antimiRNA nanococktails. The systemic administration of uPA-eEV-PNCs nanococktail shows a robust tumor tropism, which significantly enhances the combinational antitumor effects of antimiRNA-21 and antimiRNA-10b, and leads to significant tumor regression and extension of progression free survival for syngeneic 4T1 tumor-bearing mice. In addition, the uPA-eEV-PNCs-antimiRNAs nanococktail plus low dose doxorubicin results in a synergistic antitumor effect as evidenced by inhibition of tumor growth, reduction of lung metastases, and extension of survival of 4T1 tumor-bearing mice. The targeted combinational nanococktail strategy could be readily translated to the clinical setting by using autologous cancer cells that have flexibility for ex vivo expansion and genetic engineering.

Oncogene-mediated metabolic gene signature predicts breast cancer outcome.

Breast cancer remains the second most lethal cancer among women in the United States and triple-negative breast cancer is the most aggressive subtype with limited treatment options. Trop2, a cell membrane glycoprotein, is overexpressed in almost all epithelial cancers. In this study, we demonstrate that Trop2 is overexpressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), and downregulation of Trop2 delays TNBC cell and tumor growth supporting the oncogenic role of Trop2 in breast cancer. Through proteomic profiling, we discovered a metabolic signature comprised of TALDO1, GPI, LDHA, SHMT2, and ADK proteins that were downregulated in Trop2-depleted breast cancer tumors. The identified oncogene-mediated metabolic gene signature is significantly upregulated in TNBC patients across multiple RNA-expression clinical datasets. Our study further reveals that the metabolic gene signature reliably predicts poor survival of breast cancer patients with early stages of the disease. Taken together, our study identified a new five-gene metabolic signature as an accurate predictor of breast cancer outcome.

MCM2-7 complex is a novel druggable target for neuroendocrine prostate cancer.

Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) is a lethal subtype of prostate cancer that rarely develops de novo in primary tumors and is commonly acquired during the development of treatment resistance. NEPC is characterized by gain of neuroendocrine markers and loss of androgen receptor (AR), making it resistant to current therapeutic strategies targeting the AR signaling axis. Here, we report that MCM2, MCM3, MCM4, and MCM6 (MCM2/3/4/6) are elevated in human NEPC and high levels of MCM2/3/4/6 are associated with liver metastasis and poor survival in prostate cancer patients. MCM2/3/4/6 are four out of six proteins that form a core DNA helicase (MCM2-7) responsible for unwinding DNA forks during DNA replication. Inhibition of MCM2-7 by treatment with ciprofloxacin inhibits NEPC cell proliferation and migration in vitro, significantly delays NEPC tumor xenograft growth, and partially reverses the neuroendocrine phenotype in vivo. Our study reveals the clinical relevance of MCM2/3/4/6 proteins in NEPC and suggests that inhibition of MCM2-7 may represent a new therapeutic strategy for NEPC.

Discovery of CASP8 as a potential biomarker for high-risk prostate cancer through a high-multiplex immunoassay.

Prostate cancer remains the most common non-cutaneous malignancy among men in the United States. To discover potential serum-based biomarkers for high-risk prostate cancer, we performed a high-multiplex immunoassay utilizing patient-matched pre-operative and post-operative serum samples from ten men with high-grade and high-volume prostate cancer. Our study identified six (CASP8, MSLN, FGFBP1, ICOSLG, TIE2 and S100A4) out of 174 proteins that were significantly decreased after radical prostatectomy. High levels of CASP8 were detected in pre-operative serum samples when compared to post-operative serum samples and serum samples from patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). By immunohistochemistry, CASP8 protein was expressed at higher levels in prostate cancer tissues compared to non-cancerous and BPH tissues. Likewise, CASP8 mRNA expression was significantly upregulated in prostate cancer when compared to benign prostate tissues in four independent clinical datasets. In addition, mRNA levels of CASP8 were higher in patients with recurrent prostate cancer when compared to patients with non-recurrent prostate cancer and high expression of CASP8 was associated with worse disease-free survival and overall survival in renal cancer. Together, our results suggest that CASP8 may potentially serve as a biomarker for high-risk prostate cancer and possibly renal cancer.