Stage-specific Embryogenic Antigen-4 Expression in Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer and its Correlation With the Androgen Receptor

Junki Harada; Yasuyoshi Miyata; Takenobu Taima; Tsuyoshi Matsuda; Yuta Mukae; Kensuke Mitsunari; Tomohiro Matsuo; Kojiro Ohba; Tetsuji Suda; Hideki Sakai; Akihiro Ito; Seiichi Saito

doi:10.21873/anticanres.15120

Stage-specific Embryogenic Antigen-4 Expression in Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer and its Correlation With the Androgen Receptor

Anticancer Res. 2021 Jul;41(7):3327-3335. doi: 10.21873/anticanres.15120.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Urology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
² Department of Urology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan; yasu-myt@nagasaki-u.ac.jp.
³ Department of Urology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan.
⁴ Department of Urology, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.

PMID: 34230128
DOI: 10.21873/anticanres.15120

Abstract

Background/aim: Stage-specific embryonic antigen (SSEA)-4 plays important roles in the malignant aggressiveness of various cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the pathological characteristics of SSEA-4 in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

Materials and methods: SSEA-4 expression and its pathological roles were evaluated in five prostate cancer (PC) cell lines and 27 CRPC tissues. The relationship between SSEA-4 and the androgen receptor (AR) was also examined.

Results: SSEA-4 expression was detected in AR-negative cells (PC3, DU145, and AICaP1) but was not detected in AR-positive cells (LNCaP and AICaP2). SSEA-4 expression in human CRPC tissues was significantly higher than that in locally advanced or metastatic hormone sensitive PC (HSPC) tissues. A negative correlation was also detected between SSEA-4 and AR in CRPC tissues but not in HSPC tissues.

Conclusion: SSEA-4 was over-expressed in CRPC and the changes were mediated by complex mechanisms that related to the AR and hormonal therapy.

Keywords: Stage-specific embryonic antigen (SSEA)-4; androgen receptor (AR); castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC); hormonal therapy.

MeSH terms

Cell Line, Tumor
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / physiology
Humans
Male
PC-3 Cells
Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant / metabolism*
Receptors, Androgen / metabolism*
Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigens / metabolism*

Substances

AR protein, human
Receptors, Androgen
Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigens
stage-specific embryonic antigen-4