LSD1+8a is an RNA biomarker of neuroendocrine prostate cancer

Lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) is a histone demethylase and regulator of differentiation, including in cancer. A neuronal-specific isoform of LSD1-LSD1+8a-has been shown to play a key role in promoting neuronal differentiation in the developing brain. We previously determined that LSD1+8a transcripts were detected in an aggressive subtype of prostate cancer harboring a neuronal program-neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC)-but not in prostate adenocarcinomas harboring a glandular program. However, the number of samples examined was limited.

Using a large collection of prostate cancer patient cell lines and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), we measured LSD1+8a using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), RNA in situ hybridization (RNA-ISH), and protein detection methods. We then validated our findings using an independent cohort of patient tumor samples.

LSD1+8a mRNA expression was detected in every NEPC cell line and PDX examined by qPCR and RNA-ISH but in none of the prostate adenocarcinomas. We validated the RNA-ISH results in patient tumors, confirming that LSD1+8a was expressed in all NEPC tumors but in none of the adenocarcinomas. Finally, we generated a rabbit monoclonal antibody specific to LSD1+8a protein and confirmed its specificity using normal neuronal tissue samples. However, LSD1+8a protein was not detectable in NEPC tumors-likely due to the substantially lower levels of LSD1+8a mRNA in NEPC tumors vs. normal neuronal tissues.

Measuring LSD1+8a mRNA is a sensitive and specific method for the diagnosis of NEPC, which is often challenging.