Amplification of the 9p13.3 Chromosomal Region in Prostate Cancer

Amplification of the 9p13.3 chromosomal region occurs in a subset of prostate cancers; however, the target gene or genes of this amplification have remained unidentified. The aim of this study was to investigate the 9p13. 3 amplification in more detail to identify genes that are potentially advantageous for cancer cells. We narrowed down the minimally amplified area and assessed the frequency of the 9p13.3 amplification. Of the clinical samples from untreated prostate cancers that were examined (n=134), 9.7% showed high-level amplification, and 32.1% showed low-level amplification. Additionally, in clinical samples from castration-resistant prostate cancers (n=70), high- and low-level amplification was seen in 14.3% and 44.3% of the samples, respectively. We next analysed the protein-coding genes in this chromosomal region for both their expression in clinical prostate cancer samples as well as their potential as growth regulators in prostate cancer cells. We found that the 9p13.3 amplification harbours several genes that are able to affect the growth of prostate cancer cells when downregulated using siRNA. Of these, UBAP2 was the most prominently upregulated gene in the clinical prostate tumour samples. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Genes, chromosomes & cancer. 2016 Apr 13 [Epub ahead of print]

Leena Latonen, Katri A Leinonen, Teemu Grönlund, Robert L Vessella, Teuvo L J Tammela, Outi R Saramäki, Tapio Visakorpi

Institute of Biosciences and Medical Technology - BioMediTech, University of Tampere., Institute of Biosciences and Medical Technology - BioMediTech, University of Tampere., Institute of Biosciences and Medical Technology - BioMediTech, University of Tampere., Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA., Department of Urology, University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland., Institute of Biosciences and Medical Technology - BioMediTech, University of Tampere., Institute of Biosciences and Medical Technology - BioMediTech, University of Tampere.