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Updated: Oct 22, 2025

Sequencing Small Non-coding RNA from Formalin-fixed Tissues and Serum-derived Exosomes from Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer Patients
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Sequencing Small Non-coding RNA from Formalin-fixed Tissues and Serum-derived Exosomes from Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer Patients

Published on: November 19, 2019

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Androgens alter the heterogeneity of small extracellular vesicles and the small RNA cargo in prostate cancer

Elena S Martens-Uzunova1, Gina D Kusuma2,3, Stefania Crucitta4

  • 1Department of Urology, Erasmus MC, Cancer Institute University Medical Centre Rotterdam Rotterdam The Netherlands.

Journal of Extracellular Vesicles
|August 26, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Prostate cancer progression is linked to androgen receptor (AR) signaling. This study reveals that extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their small RNA cargo change with AR activity, offering potential for new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Prostate cancer cell growth relies on the androgen receptor (AR) pathway.
  • Understanding androgen's role in extracellular vesicle (EV) secretion is vital for prostate cancer therapy.
  • EVs are increasingly recognized as key players in cancer progression and signaling.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of androgens and AR on EV secretion and cargo in prostate cancer.
  • To identify specific EV markers associated with different prostate cancer stages.
  • To explore how androgen manipulation affects EV heterogeneity and small RNA content.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of plasma-derived circulating vesicles (CD9, CD63, PSMA positive) in prostate cancer patients.
  • Treatment of AR-expressing prostate cancer cells with dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and enzalutamide (ENZ).
  • Assessment of EV size, heterogeneity, protein, and small RNA cargo using advanced techniques.

Main Results:

  • Distinct EV profiles (CD9/PSMA vs. CD9/CD63) correlate with advanced metastatic and localized prostate cancer, respectively.
  • Androgen manipulation altered CD9+ S-EV size and heterogeneity but not total protein cargo.
  • Hormone stimulation significantly impacted the small RNA cargo of S-EVs, with 543 small RNAs regulated by androgens.

Conclusions:

  • EV heterogeneity and small RNA cargo analysis show promise for prostate cancer diagnostics.
  • Findings provide insights into the mechanisms of androgen-targeted therapy resistance in castration-resistant prostate cancer.
  • Androgen-regulated small RNAs within EVs may serve as biomarkers or therapeutic targets.
Keywords:
androgenandrogen receptorenzalutamideexosomesextracellular RNAextracellular vesicleshormonemicroRNAprostate cancersmall RNAtestosterone

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