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Abstract Perforin secreted from cytotoxic lymphocytes plays a critical role in cancer immunosurveillance. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic potential of liposomes containing perforin expression vector driven by the promotor of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The anti-tumor effect of perforin was analyzed using prostate cancer (PC) PC-3 cells in which perforin expression was controlled by Tet-on system (PC-3PRF cells). Liposomes encapsulating PSA promoter-driven perforin expression vector (pLipo) were constructed for its specific expression in PC. The anti-tumor effect of pLipo was evaluated in vitro using docetaxel-resistant PC 22Rv1 PC cell line, 22Rv1DR, and PC-3 cells in the presence of human peripheral blood mono nuclear cells (PBMCs) and also in vivo using male nude mice bearing 22Rv1DR cell-derived tumor xenograft. Induction of perforin significantly inhibited growth of PC-3PRF cells. Treatment with pLipo induced perforin expression in 22Rv1DR cells expressing PSA but not in PC-3 cells lacking it. Treatment with pLipo at a low concentration was prone to inhibit growth of both cell lines and significantly inhibited growth of 22Rv1DR cells when co-incubated with PBMCs. The combined use of pLipo at a high concentration with PBMCs showed nearly complete inhibition of 22Rv1DR cell growth. Intravenous administration of pLipo via tail vein increased the level of perforin in tumor and serum and significantly decreased the tumor volume. Our results suggest that liposome-mediated PC-specific expression of perforin could be a novel therapy for advanced PC.

Abstract We aimed to develop a sandwich ELISA to detect prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) on small extracellular vesicles (EVs) using T-cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain-containing protein 4 (Tim4) as a capture molecule for EVs and to evaluate its diagnostic potential in urologic malignancies. First, we optimized the conditions for sandwich ELISA measuring the PSMA level on EVs captured from serum by Tim4 and found that the use of highly-purified EVs released from Tim4 that had captured EVs in serum reduced the background. Second, we confirmed its validity by studying mouse xenograft model for prostate cancer (PC). Lastly, we measured PSMA-EVs in serum of patients with urologic malignancies. The PSMA-EV levels were significantly higher in metastatic PC and castration-resistant PC (CRPC) patients than in therapy-naïve PC patients. In renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients, PSMA-EVs were elevated in those with metastasis compared with those without metastasis, which may reflect the development of the neovasculature positive for PSMA in tumors. In conclusion, we developed a sandwich ELISA for detection of PSMA-EVs using highly-purified EVs isolated from serum by Tim4. Our results suggest that PSMA-EVs may be useful to diagnose and monitor not only PC but also RCC and possibly other hypervascular solid tumors.

The sandeel species (Ammodytes spp.) occupy a critical ecological position in connecting lower trophic levels to higher ones. However, they are strongly affected by the marine environment and their catch rates are trending downward. In this study, the target strength (TS) of sandeel species was measured in free-swimming specimens using a split-beam quantitative echo sounder with 38 and 120 kHz frequencies in a physically controlled environment. Parameters a and b used in the estimated TSmean–fork length (FL: 13.5–21.5 cm) equation were 53.7 and −124.3 dB at 38 kHz, and 71.3 and −153.2 dB at 120 kHz, respectively. The TS of the sandeel species were not proportional to the square of the FL but increased relatively rapidly with increasing body size. In addition, the mean and standard deviation of the swimming angle for the sandeel species from the acoustic data at 120 kHz were −2.2° and 7.7°, respectively, and most were in the −30° to 30°, range. Furthermore, TS was stronger at 38 kHz than at 120 kHz for all FL classes. The use of such frequency characteristics could facilitate the discrimination of fish species in the field and the sustainable assessment of sandeel species stocks.

Background: Docetaxel is first-line chemotherapy for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), but most patients acquire docetaxel resistance. CD44 has been shown to be involved in drug resistance of cancers including prostate cancer. We hypothesized that CD44 in serum exosomes could be a diagnostic marker for docetaxel resistance in CRPC patients. In this study, we examined CD44 protein and mRNA expression in cell lysates and exosomes isolated from prostate cancer cells, evaluated the effect of CD44v8-10 knockdown on docetaxel sensitivity and measured CD44 mRNA copy numbers contained in serum exosomes in prostate cancer patients. Materials and methods: Docetaxel-sensitive PC-3 prostate cancer cells and docetaxel-resistant PC-3R cells established previously from parental PC-3 cells were used. CD44v8-10 knockdown was performed by siRNA transfection. Blood was collected from 50 docetaxel-naïve and 10 docetaxel-resistant patients and 15 control males. CD44 protein expression was evaluated by Western blotting. CD44 mRNA expression was measured by RT-digital PCR. Results: The levels of CD44v8-10 protein and mRNA in cell lysates and exosomes were higher in PC-3R cells than in PC-3 cells. CD44v8-10 knockdown significantly increased docetaxel sensitivity of PC-3R cells. The CD44v8-10 mRNA copy numbers in serum exosomes were higher in docetaxel-resistant patients than in docetaxel-naïve patients and control males (median 46, 12 and 17 copies/mL serum, respectively, P = 0.032). In contrast, the serum exosomal mRNA copy numbers of CD44 standard isoform (CD44s) were not different among 3 groups (median 25, 14 and 13 copies/mL serum, respectively, P = 0.150). Conclusions: CD44v8-10 may be involved in docetaxel resistance in prostate cancer and serum exosomal CD44v8-10 mRNA could be a diagnostic marker for docetaxel-resistant CRPC.

Abstract Background Exosomes or extracellular vesicles have the potential as a diagnostic marker for various diseases including cancer. In order to identify novel exosomal markers for prostate cancer (PC), we performed proteomic analysis of exosomes isolated from PC cell lines and examined the usefulness of the marker in patients. Methods Exosomes isolated by differential centrifugation from the culture medium of androgen-dependent LNCaP prostate cancer cell line and its sublines of partially androgen-independent C4, androgen-independent C4–2 and bone metastatic C4–2B were subjected to iTRAQ-based proteomic analysis. Exosomes were also isolated by immunocapture and separated by size exclusion chromatography and density gradient centrifugation. Protein expression was determined by Western blot analysis. GGT activity was measured using a fluorescent probe, γ-glutamyl hydroxymethyl rhodamine green (gGlu-HMRG). Immunohistochemical analysis of tissues was performed using anti-GGT1 antibody. Results Among proteins upregulated in C4–2 and C4–2B cells than in LNCaP cells, we focused on gamma-glutamyltransferase 1 (GGT1), a cell-surface enzyme that regulates the catabolism of extracellular glutathione. The levels of both GGT1 large and small subunits were elevated in exosomes isolated from C4–2 and C4–2B cells by differential centrifugation and by immunocapture with anti-CD9 or -prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) antibody. In cell lysates and exosomes, GGT1 expression correlated with GGT activity. Size exclusion chromatography of human serum demonstrated the presence of GGT activity and GGT1 subunits in fractions positive for CD9. Density gradient centrifugation revealed the co-presence of GGT1 subunits with CD9 in exosomes isolated by differential centrifugation from human serum. Since GGT activity correlated with GGT1 expression in serum exosomes isolated by differential centrifugation, we measured serum exosomal GGT activity in patients. Unexpectedly, we found that serum exosomal GGT activity was significantly higher in PC patients than in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients. In support of this finding, immunohistochemical analysis showed increased GGT1 expression in PC tissues compared with BPH tissues. Conclusions Our results suggest that serum exosomal GGT activity could be a useful biomarker for PC.

A 26-year-old woman with gross hematuria was seen in a previous hospital. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a tumor at the dome of the urinary bladder with invasion outside of the bladder wall. The patient underwent transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TUR-BT). From the result of the pathological examination, the tumor was suggested to be carcinosarcoma of the bladder. The patient was then referred to our hospital for treatment. We performed radical cystectomy and ileal conduit diversion. Pathological examination of the excised specimen revealed an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor as the basis for immunostaining of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK).

Macrophages within the tumor microenvironment promote angiogenesis, extracellular matrix breakdown, and tumor cell migration, invasion, and metastasis. Activation of the urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor (uPAR) axis promotes prostate cancer tumorigenicity, invasion, metastasis, and survival within the tumor microenvironment. The link between macrophage infiltration and the uPA/uPAR axis in prostate cancer development has not been established, although it has been reported that uPA plays a critical role in monocyte and macrophage chemotaxis. In this study, murine prostate cancer RM-1 cells were subcutaneously inoculated into wild-type (WT), uPA−/−, and uPAR−/− mice. Tumor volume was significantly diminished in both uPA−/− and uPAR−/− mice compared with WT controls. Greater inhibition of tumor volume was also observed in uPA−/− mice compared with uPAR−/− mice, suggesting the important contribution of stromal-derived uPA to sustain the tumor growth. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that tumors in uPA−/− and uPAR−/− mice displayed significantly lower proliferative indices, higher apoptotic indices, and less neovascularity compared with the tumors in WT mice. Tumors in uPA−/− and uPAR−/− mice displayed significantly less macrophage infiltration as demonstrated by F4/80 staining and MAC3+ cell numbers by flow cytometry compared with the tumors from WT mice. These findings suggest that the uPA/uPAR axis acts in both autocrine and paracrine manners in the tumor microenvironment, and activation of uPA/uPAR axis is essential for macrophage infiltration into prostate tumors.

CC chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2, also known as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) has been demonstrated to recruit monocytes to tumor sites. Monocytes are capable of being differentiated into tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and osteoclasts (OCs). TAMs have been shown to promote tumor growth in several cancer types. Osteoclasts have also been known to play an important role in cancer bone metastasis. To investigate the effects of CCL2 on tumorigenesis and its potential effects on bone metastasis of human prostate cancer, CCL2 was overexpressed into a luciferase-tagged human prostate cancer cell line PC-3. In vitro, the conditioned medium of CCL2 overexpressing PC-3luc cells (PC-3lucCCL2) was a potent chemoattractant for mouse monocytes in comparison to a conditioned medium from PC-3lucMock. In addition, CCL2 overexpression increased the growth of transplanted xenografts and increased the accumulation of macrophages in vivo. In a tumor dissemination model, PC-3lucCCL2 enhanced the growth of bone metastasis, which was associated with more functional OCs. Neutralizing antibodies targeting both human and mouse CCL2 inhibited the growth of PC-3luc, which was accompanied by a decrease in macrophage recruitment to the tumor. These findings suggest that CCL2 increases tumor growth and bone metastasis through recruitment of macrophages and OCs to the tumor site.

Pv11 is the only animal cell line that, when preconditioned with a high concentration of trehalose, can be preserved in the dry state at room temperature for more than one year while retaining the ability to resume proliferation. This extreme desiccation tolerance is referred to as anhydrobiosis. Here, we identified a transporter that contributes to the recovery of Pv11 cells from anhydrobiosis. In general, the solute carrier 5 (SLC5)-type secondary active transporters cotransport Na+ and carbohydrates including glucose. The heterologous expression systems showed that the transporter belonging to the SLC5 family, whose expression increases upon rehydration, exhibits Na+ -dependent trehalose transport activity. Therefore, we named it STRT1 (sodium-ion trehalose transporter 1). We report an SLC5 family member that transports a naturally occurring disaccharide, such as trehalose. Knockout of the Strt1 gene significantly reduced the viability of Pv11 cells upon rehydration after desiccation. During rehydration, when intracellular trehalose is no longer needed, Strt1-knockout cells released the disaccharide more slowly than the parental cell line. During rehydration, Pv11 cells became roughly spherical due to osmotic pressure changes, but then returned to their original spindle shape after about 30 min. Strt1-knockout cells, however, required about 50 min to adopt their normal morphology. STRT1 probably regulates intracellular osmolality by releasing unwanted intracellular trehalose with Na+, thereby facilitating the recovery of normal cell morphology during rehydration. STRT1 likely improves the viability of dried Pv11 cells by rapidly alleviating the significant physical stresses that arise during rehydration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: A genomic analysis based on next-generation sequencing is important for deciding cancer treatment strategies. Cancer tissue sometimes displays intratumor heterogeneity and a pathologic specimen may contain more than two tumor grades. Although tumor grades are very important for the cancer prognosis, the impact of higher tumor grade distribution in a specimen used for a genomic analysis is unknown. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 61 clear cell carcinoma and 46 prostate cancer patients that were diagnosed between December 2018 and August 2022 using the GeneRead Human Comprehensive Cancer Panel or SureSelect PrePool custom Tier2. Genome annotation and curation were performed using the GenomeJack software. Results: Tumor mutation burden (TMB) was increased in proportion to the higher tumor grade distribution in grade 2 clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). In PC, Grade Group 3/4 specimens that included an increased distribution of Gleason pattern 4 had more frequent gene mutations. Conclusion: Our results suggest the importance of selecting the maximum distribution of higher tumor grade areas to obtain results on the precise gene alterations for genomics-focused treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: We aimed to evaluate the changes of androgen receptor (AR) signaling-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in serum extracellular vesicles (EVs) from prostate cancer (PC) patients, in order to identify novel biomarkers for AR axis-targeted therapy (ARAT)- resistance among castration-resistant PC (CRPC) patients. Patients and Methods: EVs were isolated from 2 patients before and after acquiring ARAT-resistance. RNA profiling of EVs was performed by RNA-sequencing. The expression levels of selected lncRNAs in EVs were analyzed by digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) in 58 localized and 14 metastatic PC patients at diagnosis, 7 ARAT-naïve and 6 ARAT-resistant CRPC patients. LncRNA H19 expression in PC tissue was examined using published data. In order to analyze the role of H19, the prognosis was analyzed in PC patients and proteomic analysis was performed in 22Rv1 PC cells. Results: RNA-sequencing revealed that AR-regulated RNAs were most enriched in EVs after acquiring ARAT-resistance. Among them, up-regulation of AR signaling-related lncRNAs (PCAT1, H19, HOXA-11AS, ZEB1-AS1, ARLNC1, PART1, CTBP1-AS and PCA3) was confirmed by ddPCR. H19 contained in EVs (EV-H19) was significantly increased among ARAT-resistant patients compared to ARAT-naïve CRPC or metastatic PC patients. In PC tissue, H19 was negatively correlated with AR protein and AR-activity score and up-regulated in neuroendocrine CRPC tissue with low AR expression. Furthermore, EV-H19 expression was significantly associated with worse outcome to androgendeprivation therapy. Proteomic analysis demonstrated that H19 knockdown enhanced PC-related protein expression. Conclusion: EV-H19 may negatively correlate with ARsignaling activity and could be a marker to diagnose ARATresistance among CRPC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: The Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene encodes a protein (pVHL) that plays an important role in proteasome degradation of hypoxia inducible factor α (HIFα) through E3 activation. Accumulation of HIFα by loss of functional pVHL promotes tumorigenesis, thus, VHL has tumor suppressor gene capability in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). VHL is the most frequently mutated gene in ccRCC. The complete loss of VHL is mainly achieved by loss of chromosome 3p, which has a VHL coding region in combination with mutation or hypermethylation of the remaining copy of VHL. Given the risk of constitutional chromosome 3 translocation for RCC, it is important to detect the translocation and understand the mechanism underlying the development of multifocal ccRCC. Case Report: A 67-year-old female patient diagnosed with multifocal RCC underwent robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) for three kidney tumors. A cancer gene panel test using next generation sequencing (NGS) detected differential VHL mutations (c.533T>G; p.L178R, c.465_466insTA; p.T157Ifs*3, c.343C>A; p.H115N), while VHL mutation was not detected in peripheral blood DNA. A tendency toward copy number loss of genes on der(3) was also detected in all tumors, but not in the germline one. A karyotype analysis revealed a germline translocation between 3 and 6, t(3;6)(q12;q14). Conclusion: Chromosome 3 translocation and loss of derivative chromosome containing 3p and subsequent somatic differential VHL mutations in this case strongly support the previously proposed three-step model to explain the development of familial conventional ccRCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To identify novel diagnostic markers for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), we analyzed miRNAs in serum extracellular vesicles (EVs). Materials and Methods: EVs were purified from serum of healthy controls and patients with localized and advanced RCC using T-cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain-containing protein 4 conjugated to magnetic beads. miRNA profiling of EVs was conducted by microarray analysis. miRNA expression was examined by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Lastly, proteomic analysis of RCC cells transfected with a miRNA inhibitor was performed to identify its potential targets. Results: Microarray analysis revealed that nine miRNAs were increased by more than 1.5-fold in EVs from patients with RCC. Among them, miRNA-4525 was significantly elevated; miRNA-4525 expression was higher in RCC tissue than in the adjacent normal tissue. Proteomic analysis identified alpha fetoprotein and albumin as its potential targets. Conclusion: These findings suggest the potential of miRNA-4525 in serum EVs as a novel biomarker for advanced RCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We examined four clinical strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GU030113, GU110095, GU110332 and GU110362) isolated between 2000 and 2014 in Japan, exhibiting ceftriaxone MICs of 0.5 mg/L, for mutations of the genes associated with penicillin resistance.Methods: The penA, mtrR, porB1b (penB), ponA and pilQ genes of the strains were sequenced. PBP2s of the strains were aligned to the PBP2s associated with decreased susceptibility to oral cephalosporins, and PBP2s of previously reported strains with decreased susceptibility to ceftriaxone.Results: GU030113 had PBP2 pattern X with an additional substitution of A502T. GU110095 had PBP2 pattern XXVII. GU110332 had PBP2 pattern XXXIV with an additional substitution of P552S. GU110362 had PBP2 composed of pattern X (amino acid positions 1-291) and pattern V (amino acid positions 292-576). GU030113, GU110095 and GU110332 had deletion of A in the mtrR promoter, G120K and A121D or A121N in PorB1b and L421P in PBP1. GU110362 had A40D in the repressor of MtrR and L421P in PBP1. The strains did not have mutations of pilQ1 and pilQ2.Conclusions: Addition of A502T to PBP2 pattern X in GU030113 and of P552S to PBP2 pattern XXXIV in GU110332 would possibly contribute to decreased susceptibility to ceftriaxone. In GU110095 and GU110362, it was suggested that, in addition to their altered PBP2s, the enhanced efflux pump, reduced permeability in the outer membrane, another altered target of β-lactams and/or other mechanisms not identified in the present study might contribute to decreased susceptibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We treated men with gonococcal urethritis with a single-dose regimen of 1 g of ceftriaxone, which is recommended as the first-line treatment for gonorrhoea in Japan, to determine its microbiological outcomes and tolerability.Methods: We enrolled 255 men with gonococcal urethritis and treated them with a single-dose regimen of 1 g of ceftriaxone. We evaluated its microbiological outcomes and tolerability. We also determined ceftriaxone MICs for pretreatment isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae collected from the patients.Results: The microbiological efficacy of the ceftriaxone regimen, which was determined between 5 and 9 days after treatment in 111 men based on the Japanese guideline for clinical research on antimicrobial agents in urogenital infections, was 100%. In the 194 men who returned to the clinic between 2 and 41 days after treatment, 191 (98.5%; 95% CI 96.8%-100%) were negative for N. gonorrhoeae after treatment. Ceftriaxone MICs determined for 136 pretreatment isolates obtained from these 194 men ranged from 0.001 to 0.25 mg/L. One isolate persisting after treatment exhibited a ceftriaxone MIC of 0.008 mg/L. For two isolates persisting after treatment, ceftriaxone MICs were not determined. Seven adverse events were observed in 7 (3.2%) of the 220 men treated with the ceftriaxone regimen. Four men had diarrhoea classified as grade 1. Three had urticaria during ceftriaxone administration, with one event classified as grade 1 and two events classified as grade 3.Conclusions: A single-dose regimen of 1 g of ceftriaxone was microbiologically effective against gonococcal urethritis and was safe and tolerable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors present a case report of collecting duct carcinoma (CDC) that responded to nivolumab, a programmed death 1 (PD-1) immune-checkpoint-inhibitor antibody, following the failure of systemic treatment with chemotherapy and targeted therapy. The patient underwent right radical nephrectomy and segmentectomy of the lung following chemotherapy. Fifteen months following the first surgery, segmentectomy and subsequent second-line chemotherapy were performed for recurrence in the lung. Targeted therapy with temsirolimus for recurrence of the lung and lymph node metastases was ultimately used for 30 months. However, the temsirolimus treatment failed to suppress the growth of metastatic lesions. Nivolumab resulted in complete response of the lung metastasis, and it stabilized the lymph node metastasis. PD-L1 was highly expressed in both primary tumor and the metastatic regions. Therapy with nivolumab is ongoing. These findings suggest that treatment with nivolumab may be considered for metastatic and treatment-failure CDC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]