The Potential Mechanisms of Ochratoxin A in Prostate Cancer Development: An Integrated Study Combining Network...

Area of Science:

• Toxicology
• Oncology
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a common food contaminant with suspected links to prostate cancer.
• The exact mechanisms by which OTA influences prostate cancer development are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the role of Ochratoxin A in prostate cancer pathogenesis.
• To identify key molecular targets and pathways affected by OTA exposure.

Main Methods:

• Integrated network toxicology, machine learning, and molecular docking.
• Identified 364 potential OTA targets in prostate cancer.
• Utilized machine learning to prioritize five critical molecular targets: ESR1, TP53, TNF, INS, and EGFR.

Main Results:

• OTA interacts with a significant number of prostate cancer-related targets.
• Five key targets (ESR1, TP53, TNF, INS, EGFR) were prioritized by machine learning.
• Functional enrichment analysis suggested OTA disrupts endocrine function, activates oncogenic pathways, alters metabolism, and modulates the tumor microenvironment.

Conclusions:

• OTA may promote prostate cancer progression through multiple molecular mechanisms.
• The identified key targets and pathways provide a basis for understanding OTA's carcinogenic potential.
• This study offers insights into the complex relationship between dietary contaminants and cancer development.