Androgen inactivation occurs mainly through the glucuronidation conjugative reaction mediated by UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs). This metabolic process is involved in the control of systemic and local androgen bioavailability.
To examine the relationship among expression of the androgen-inactivating UGT2B28 enzyme, circulating steroid hormone levels, and clinical phenotype in prostate cancer (PCa).
We conducted an analysis of a high-density prostate tumor tissue microarray consisting of 239 localized PCa cases. The study of 51 additional PCa patients with no copies of UDP glucuronosyltransferase 2B subfamily, polypeptide B28 (UGT2B28) in their genomes was performed to confirm the importance of the enzyme on circulating hormone levels.
Steroid hormones were measured by mass spectrometry. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models assessed the influence of UGT2B28 on progression, and general linear model regression evaluated variations in hormone levels.
Tumor overexpression of UGT2B28 was associated with lower prostate-specific antigen levels at diagnosis, higher Gleason scores, margin and nodal invasion status, and it was shown to be an independent prognostic factor associated with progression. Enzyme overexpression correlated with 30% higher circulating levels of testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Patients with no copies of UGT2B28 in their genomes have lower levels of T (19%), DHT (17%), its glucuronide metabolites (18-38%), and enhanced levels of the adrenal precursor androstenedione (36%).
The UGT2B28 steroid-inactivating pathway modifies circulating T and DHT levels, and UGT2B28 overexpression is associated with high-grade PCa. Our work has uncovered the role of UGT2B28 as a regulator of steroidogenesis and underscores the interconnectivity among the steroid-inactivation capacity of cancer cells, hormone levels, disease characteristics, and the risk of cancer progression.
The androgen-inactivating UGT2B28 enzyme influences hormone levels, clinical and pathologic factors, and the risk of cancer progression.
European urology. 2015 Jul 24 [Epub ahead of print]
Anaïs Belledant, Hélène Hovington, Luciana Garcia, Patrick Caron, Hervé Brisson, Lyne Villeneuve, David Simonyan, Bernard Têtu, Yves Fradet, Louis Lacombe, Chantal Guillemette, Eric Lévesque
Pharmacogenomics Laboratory, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center and Faculty of Pharmacy, Laval University, Québec, Canada; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Québec, Canada. , Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Québec, Canada; Clinical and Evaluative Research Platform, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center, Québec, Canada. , Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Québec, Canada. , Pharmacogenomics Laboratory, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center and Faculty of Pharmacy, Laval University, Québec, Canada. , Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Québec, Canada. , Pharmacogenomics Laboratory, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center and Faculty of Pharmacy, Laval University, Québec, Canada. , Clinical and Evaluative Research Platform, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center, Québec, Canada. , Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Québec, Canada. , Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Québec, Canada. , Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Québec, Canada. , Pharmacogenomics Laboratory, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center and Faculty of Pharmacy, Laval University, Québec, Canada. , Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Québec, Canada.