engleski

The DNA methylation of LGALS3 gene as a prostate cancer biomarker

The unmet challenge for clinicians in prostate cancer (PCa) management represents its differentiation from benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) due to the lack of specific diagnostic biomarkers. Contemporary research is directed towards cfDNA from liquid biopsies as potential PCa biomarkers, especially DNA methylation since it plays an important role in prostate cancer development. In the present work, CpG methylation of the LGALS3 gene in cfDNA isolated from blood and seminal plasma of PCa and BPH patients was investigated using pyrosequencing ; as well as DNA methylation of LGALS3 in tumor tissue, surrounding non-tumor tissue, and BPH tissue. Liquid biopsy samples were taken from patients with elevated PSA levels before prostate biopsy, who were subsequently divided into two groups (42 with PCa and 55 with BPH) according to the histopathology report. Statistically significant higher cfDNA methylation in seminal plasma of BPH patients was found compared to cancer ones. Still, in both groups, low methylation frequency was found ; median in BPH patients was 4 %, while in PCa patients 3 %. In tumor tissue, there was a statistically significant DNA hypermethylation of LGALS3 compared to surrounding non-tumor tissue and BPH tissue. However, cfDNA from blood plasma did not reflect that change. In conclusion, DNA hypermethylation of the LGALS3 gene represents an event specific for prostate cancer compared to surrounding non-tumor tissue and BPH tissue, but it does not reflect itself on cfDNA in blood and seminal plasma as liquid biopsy samples. Therefore, cfDNA methylation of LGALS3 in blood and seminal plasma did not meet the supposed potential for differentiation between PCa and BPH ; but DNA methylation of LGALS3 in tissue could be used as a biomarker for PCa.

prostate cancer ; LGALS3 ; liquid biopsy ; biomarkers

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