High expression of NPRL2 is linked to poor prognosis in patients with prostate cancer

As a tumor suppressor candidate gene, NPRL2 has anti-cancer effects against several cancers, but its potential role in prostate cancer (PCa) has not been reported. The present study aimed to explore the expression of NPRL2 in PCa and its potential clinical significance. Our results showed that expression of NPRL2 in PCa tissues was significantly higher than in non-PCa tissues (P<.001). High NPRL2 expression in PCa tissue was significantly correlated with a high Gleason grade group (P<.001), high pT stage (P<.001), and lymph node metastasis (P=.003). The overall survival of PCa patients with negative to weak NPRL2 expression was significantly higher than that of patients with moderate to strong positive NPRL2 expression. Furthermore, in vitro, we found the up-regulated NPRL2 level in LNCaP and PC3 cells, and forced re-expression of NPRL2 significant promoted the growth of those cells and vice versa. Contrary to existing reports, our results interestingly showed, for the first time, that the expression level of NPRL2 was significantly upregulated in PCa and its high expression was correlated with poor prognosis, suggesting its pivotal role in the progression of PCa. NPRL2 may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker for PCa patients.

Human pathology. 2018 Feb 16 [Epub ahead of print]

Zhixiong Chen, Shengjun Luo, Yanlin Chen, Xuemei Xie, Zhongbo Du, Li Jiang

Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.1 Youyi Road, Yuan Jiagang, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400010, PR China. Electronic address: ., Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.1 Youyi Road, Yuan Jiagang, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400010, PR China. Electronic address: ., Department of pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.1 Youyi Road, Yuan Jiagang, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400010, PR China. Electronic address: ., Molecular and pathological diagnosis center, Chongqing Medical University, No.1 Medical College Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400016, PR China. Electronic address: ., Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.1 Youyi Road, Yuan Jiagang, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400010, PR China. Electronic address: ., Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University. Electronic address: .