Molecular Alterations Associated with Histologically Overt Stromal Response in Patients with Prostate Cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Genomics
• Tumor Microenvironment Research

Background:

• Prostate cancer exhibits significant heterogeneity, complicating treatment and outcome prediction.
• The tumor microenvironment, specifically the histologically overt stromal response (HOST-response), shows prognostic potential.
• Identifying molecular drivers of HOST-response is crucial for personalized prostate cancer therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate genomic alterations linked to the HOST-response in prostate cancer.
• To identify key molecular pathways and potential therapeutic targets associated with HOST-response.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) prostate cancer patient data.
• Gene expression profiling and protein-protein interaction network analysis.
• Functional enrichment analysis of identified genes and pathways.

Main Results:

• 160 out of 348 prostate cancer patients (45.98%) displayed a HOST-response.
• 1263 genes showed significantly higher expression in patients with HOST-response.
• Seven hub genes (KIF2C, CENPA, CDC20, UBE2C, ESPL1, KIF23, PLK1) were identified, linked to cell division, cytoskeletal organization, and IL-16 signaling.

Conclusions:

• The HOST-response in prostate cancer is associated with a distinct molecular signature involving dysregulated proliferation and inflammation.
• These findings offer insights into tumor-stroma interactions driving aggressive disease.
• Identified molecular pathways and hub genes represent potential targets for novel therapeutic strategies in prostate cancer.