Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 18, 2026
12:13
Sequencing Small Non-coding RNA from Formalin-fixed Tissues and Serum-derived Exosomes from Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer Patients
Published on: November 19, 2019
7.2K
Identifying prognostic targets in metastatic prostate cancer beyond AR
Emily Feng1, Eric Feng1, Tracy Berg2
1Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Francisco, CA, USA.
FEBS Open Bio
|May 23, 2025
Summary
Genome-wide screens identified eight genes crucial for prostate cancer cell growth and linked to poor prognosis. These genes, including DHFR and PPM1D, are potential therapeutic targets, even after abiraterone treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genetics
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Prostate cancer presents significant therapeutic challenges, particularly in metastatic stages.
- Identifying novel drug targets is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
- CRISPR/RNAi screens offer powerful tools for discovering cancer vulnerabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify druggable targets in prostate cancer by integrating functional genomic screening data with gene expression and clinical outcome information.
- To pinpoint genes essential for prostate cancer cell survival that correlate with poor prognosis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized DepMap functional screen data from prostate cancer cell lines.
- Integrated data with a large gene expression database (N=1012) and clinical outcomes.
- Analyzed gene dependency, expression levels, and association with prognosis and treatment response.
Main Results:
- Identified eight genes (CYC, CYP51A1, DHFR, EBP, KIF15, PPM1D, SQLE, UMPS) with strong cell line dependency and association with worse clinical prognosis.
- Four genes (DHFR, EBP, KIF15, PPM1D) showed higher expression in neuroendocrine prostate cancer.
- Most identified genes remained targetable postabiraterone therapy, indicating potential for overcoming treatment resistance.
Conclusions:
- The eight identified genes represent promising therapeutic targets for metastatic prostate cancer.
- These targets show potential for clinical relevance, particularly in neuroendocrine prostate cancer and post-treatment settings.
- Further research is warranted to explore the clinical utility of these druggable targets in prostate cancer therapy.
Related Concept Videos
02:57Targeted Cancer Therapies
8.6K
The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
8.6K
03:03mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
4.6K
The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
The mTOR pathway or the...
4.6K
02:38Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
7.7K
Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
7.7K