Bone remodeling in relation to androgen receptor activity in prostate cancer bone metastases

• Prostate cancer often metastasizes to bone and the metastases are generally classified as osteoblastic, although a mixed osteoblastic/osteolytic bone response may exist. The present study aimed to characterize the bone remodeling activity in clinical bone metastasis samples, with the overall hypothesis that diversities exist that may be of importance for clinical response to current therapies. Specifically, we aimed to study bone remodeling activity in relation to tumor cell androgen receptor (AR) activity. Metastasis tissue obtained from treatment-naïve (n=11) and castration-resistant (n=28) patients during surgery for spinal cord compression was characterized using whole-genome expression analysis followed by multivariate modeling and functional enrichment analysis as well as by histological evaluation. By analyzing expression levels of a predefined set of markers representing osteoclasts (ACP5, CTSK, MMP9), osteoblasts (ALPL, BGLAP, RUNX2) and osteocytes (SOST), we found high osteoblast activity to be coupled to a high osteoclast activity. Immunohistochemistry verified a significant correlation between RUNX2 positive osteoblasts and TRAP (ACP5) positive osteoclasts lining metastatic bone surfaces in close contact to tumor cells. No difference in bone remodeling activity was seen between treatment naïve and castration-resistant patients, while the bone remodeling activity was inversely correlated to AR activity within the tissue (measured as expression of the AR, FOXA1, HOXB13, KLK2, KLK3, NKX3-1, STEAP2, and TMPRSS2) and patient serum PSA levels. Ontology analysis suggested enriched BMP signaling in metastases with high bone remodeling activity and, accordingly, BMP4 mRNA expression was significantly higher in bone metastases with than without ongoing bone formation, as determined from histological evaluation of van Gieson-stained sections. In conclusion, we have observed diversities in bone remodeling activity among clinical samples of prostate cancer bone metastases that may be of importance when selecting therapy for patients with bone metastatic cancer, especially when bone-targeting therapies are considered. The importance of the BMP signaling system for the development of sclerotic metastasis lesion deserve further exploration.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Oncology

onkologi

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

ovr (subject category)