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Updated: May 11, 2026
miRNA Expression Analyses in Prostate Cancer Clinical Tissues
Published on: September 8, 2015
Expression of SOCSs in human prostate cancer and their association in prognosis
Jian-guo Zhu1, Qi-shan Dai, Zhao-dong Han
1Department of Urology, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guizhou, China.
Abstract:
Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins have been identified as negative feedback regulators of cytokine-mediated signaling in various tissues, and demonstrated to play critical roles in tumorigenesis and tumor development of different cancers. The involvement of SOCSs in human prostate cancer (PCa) has not been fully elucidated. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the expression patterns and the clinical significance of SOCSs in PCa. The expression changes of SOCSs at mRNA and protein levels in human PCa tissues compared with adjacent benign prostate tissues were, respectively, detected by using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry analyses. The associations of SOCSs expression with clinicopathological features and clinical outcome of PCa patients were further statistically analyzed. Among SOCSs, both QRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry analyses found that SOCS2 expression was upregulated (at mRNA level: change ratio = 1.98, P = 0.031; at protein level: 5.12 ± 0.60 vs. 2.68 ± 0.37, P = 0.016) and SOCS6 expression was downregulated (at mRNA level: change ratio = -1.65, P = 0.008; at protein level: 3.03 ± 0.32 vs. 4.0.72 ± 0.39, P = 0.004) in PCa tissues compared with those in non-cancerous prostate tissues. In addition, the upregulation of SOCS2 in PCa tissues was correlated with the lower Gleason score (P < 0.001), the absence of metastasis (P < 0.001) and the negative PSA failure (P = 0.009); the downregulation of SOCS6 tended to be found in PCa tissues with the higher Gleason score (P = 0.016), the advanced pathological stage (P = 0.007), the positive metastasis (P = 0.020), and the positive PSA failure (P = 0.032). Furthermore, both univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the downregulation of SOCS2 was an independent predictor of shorter biochemical recurrence-free survival. Our data offer the convincing evidence for the first time that the dysregulation of SOCS2 and SOCS6 may be associated with the aggressive progression of PCa. SOCS2 may be potential markers for prognosis in PCa patients.
Insights
Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins SOCS2 and SOCS6 show altered expression in prostate cancer (PCa). SOCS2 upregulation correlates with better prognosis, while SOCS6 downregulation is linked to aggressive disease, suggesting their roles in PCa progression.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins regulate cytokine signaling and are implicated in cancer development.
- The specific roles of SOCS proteins in prostate cancer (PCa) progression and clinical outcomes remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression patterns of SOCS proteins in human prostate cancer (PCa) tissues.
- To determine the clinical significance and prognostic value of SOCS expression in PCa patients.
Main Methods:
- Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) was used to analyze SOCS mRNA expression levels.
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was employed to assess SOCS protein expression in PCa and adjacent benign tissues.
- Statistical analyses correlated SOCS expression with clinicopathological features and patient survival.
Main Results:
- SOCS2 mRNA and protein levels were significantly upregulated in PCa tissues compared to benign tissues (mRNA: 1.98-fold increase, P=0.031; protein: 5.12 vs. 2.68, P=0.016).
- SOCS6 mRNA and protein levels were significantly downregulated in PCa tissues compared to benign tissues (mRNA: -1.65-fold change, P=0.008; protein: 3.03 vs. 4.72, P=0.004).
- Upregulated SOCS2 correlated with lower Gleason score, absence of metastasis, and negative PSA failure. Downregulated SOCS6 correlated with higher Gleason score, advanced stage, metastasis, and positive PSA failure.
- Downregulation of SOCS2 was an independent predictor of shorter biochemical recurrence-free survival in PCa patients.
Conclusions:
- Dysregulation of SOCS2 (upregulation) and SOCS6 (downregulation) is associated with prostate cancer progression.
- SOCS2 expression may serve as a potential prognostic marker for improved outcomes in PCa patients.
- Further research into the therapeutic potential of targeting SOCS proteins in PCa is warranted.
