Utilisation of the STEAP protein family in a diagnostic setting may provide a more comprehensive prognosis of prostate cancer

PLoS One. 2019 Aug 8;14(8):e0220456. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220456. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in men worldwide; however, few patients are affected by clinically significant disease within their lifetime. Unfortunately, the means to discriminate between patients with indolent disease and those who progress to aggressive prostate cancer is currently unavailable, resulting in over-treatment of patients. We therefore aimed to determine biomarkers of prostate cancer that can be used in the clinic to aid the diagnosis and prognosis. Immunohistochemistry analysis was carried out on prostate cancer specimens with a range of Gleason scores. Samples were stained and analysed for intensity of the Seven Transmembrane Epithelial Antigen of the Prostate (STEAP)-1, -2, -3, -4 and the Divalent Metal Transporter 1 (DMT1) proteins to determine suitable biomarkers for classification of patients likely to develop aggressive prostate cancer. Additionally, these proteins were also analysed to determine whether any would be able to predict future relapse using Kaplan Meier analysis. Data generated demonstrated that the protein expression levels of STEAP2 correlated significantly with Gleason score; furthermore, STEAP4 was a significant predictor of relapse. This data indicates that STEAP2 could be potential prognostic candidate for use in combination with the current prostate cancer detection methods and the presence of STEAP4 could be an indicator of possible relapse.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / biosynthesis*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Oxidoreductases / biosynthesis*
  • Prognosis
  • Prostate / metabolism*
  • Prostate / pathology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Prostatic Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Prostatic Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Transcription Factors / biosynthesis*

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • DMRT1 protein
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Oxidoreductases

Grants and funding

This work was funded from Tenovus Cancer Care (https://tenovuscancercare.org.uk/) as a PhD Studentship (PHD2013/L01) to SHD and HK. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.