Abstract
Prostate carcinoma (PCa) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in males, but biomarkers for the prognosis are rare. Capillary morphogenesis gene 2 (CMG2) is a modulator of extracellular matrix remodeling during angiogenesis. Four isoforms of CMG2 have been described so far, one secreted in the serum as soluble CMG2 (sCMG2). The aim of this study was to evaluate the sCMG2 serum concentrations in 179 PCa patients and 163 age-matched control subjects by ELISA and correlate it to clinical and demographic parameters. We observed that sCMG2 concentration is increased in the serum of PCa patients with metastases, while no significant differences in the concentrations were detected between the control subjects and patients with localized PCa. Furthermore, elevated sCMG2 concentrations were significantly associated with the highest T stage. Increased sCMG2 serum concentrations tended to be associated with a worsened overall and disease-specific survival of the PCa patients. In conclusion, sCMG2 may be an interesting additive biomarker for the prediction of the progression of PCa and the patients’ outcome.
Highlights
Prostate carcinoma (PCa) is still the most frequent tumor entity in males in many countries [1,2], and the second most common cancer entity worldwide [3]
We observed that soluble CMG2 (sCMG2) concentration is increased in the serum of PCa patients with metastases, while no significant differences in the concentrations were detected between the control subjects and patients with localized PCa
Capillary morphogenesis gene 2 (CMG2) was identified to be capable of co-activating a Wnt/b-catenin pathway via LRP6 binding in gastric cancer cells, triggering the maintenance of a stem cell-like phenotype associated with the capability of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and high metastatic abilities [33]
Summary
Prostate carcinoma (PCa) is still the most frequent tumor entity in males in many countries [1,2], and the second most common cancer entity worldwide [3]. Owing to its overall incidence, it is the second to third highest cause of cancer-related death of males in developed countries [1,3]. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is used for diagnosis of PCa from liquid biopsies; still bearing several limitations [7,8]. The evaluation of biomarkers from liquid biopsies with accurate diagnostic or prognostic impact remains an important task in translational PCa research
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