CXCL1-LCN2 paracrine axis promotes progression of prostate cancer via the Src activation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
BACKGROUND
Mechanisms driving the progression of castration-resistant prostate cancer are believed to relate substantially to the tumor microenvironment. However, the cross-talks between tumor epithelial cell, stromal cells, and immune cells are yet to be fully elucidated. The present study aims to determine the role of chemokine and neutrophil derived cytokine paracrine axis in mediating the interaction between tumor cells, stromal myofibroblasts, and neutrophils in the tumor microenvironment of prostate cancer.


METHODS
To identify myofibroblasts and neutrophil derived specific proteins affecting progression of prostate cancer, bioinformatics analyses were firstly performed in independent human prostate cancer gene expression data sets from the GEO data bank. Expression of stromal myofibroblasts secretory chemokine CXCL1 and neutrophil derived cytokine LCN2 was evaluated in prostate tissues via immunohistochemistry assay. We further investigated the effect of CXCL1 and LCN2 on prostate cancer using in vivo and in vitro models, and explored the underlying signal transduction pathways.


RESULTS
A CXCL1-LCN2 paracrine network was confirmed in prostate cancer tissue samples, which was correlated with the biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer. Of note, CXCL1-LCN2 axis activates Src signaling, triggers the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), consequently promotes the migration of prostate cancer cells, leading to enhanced tumor metastasis.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings may provide enhanced insight into the interactions of carcinoma-stromal cells and immune cells linked to prostate cancer progression, wherein CXCL1-LCN2 axis is a key contributor to prostate cancer cells migration. These data indicate tumor microenvironment and Src signaling pathway may be potential therapeutic targets of prostate cancer treatment.
['Lu|Yongning|Y|', 'Dong|Baijun|B|', 'Xu|Fan|F|', 'Xu|Yunze|Y|', 'Pan|Jiahua|J|', 'Song|Jiajia|J|', 'Zhang|Jin|J|', 'Huang|Yiran|Y|', 'Xue|Wei|W|']
D045744:Cell Line, Tumor D002465:Cell Movement D049109:Cell Proliferation D054360:Chemokine CXCL1 D004789:Enzyme Activation D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition D006801:Humans D000071068:Lipocalin-2 D008297:Male D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis D019899:Paracrine Communication D010641:Phenotype D011379:Prognosis D011468:Prostatectomy D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms D012008:Recurrence D019061:src-Family Kinases
Tumor microenvironment Chemokine Cytokine Tumor metastasis Tumor cell migration